Noah Fernandez named Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month
Noah Fernandez has been named Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month for the first time. The 18-year-old PSV player stood out during the opening month of the season with his versatility both on the ball and defensively.
‘Incredible Talent’
The 18-year-old Belgian started three matches in August and made a big impression. Former player Arnold Bruggink was already full of praise for the youngster on ESPN: “He can really beat his man while still keeping an eye on what is happening around him. Because he is quite small, you might think he is not particularly strong, but when you see him in the duels... He is wiry and more than holds his own.”
“When you are 18 years old and everyone wants to give you the ball, you know you are a special player. They all look to find him because they know the ball is safe at his feet. Noah Fernandez is keeping two of PSV’s major summer signings out of the starting XI (Sven Mijnans and Paul Wanner, ed.). He is an incredible talent who deserves recognition.”
Heavily Involved in PSV’s Build-Up Play
The statistics also underline Fernandez’s versatility. In August, he ranked among the best-performing players born in 2005 or later across several metrics.
Defensively, the midfielder made seven tackles, five of which were successful. Fernandez also recorded an impressive 17 ball recoveries. Among players born in 2005 or later, only Ajax’s Aaron Bouwman and AZ’s Elijah Dijkstra registered more.
Fernandez also impressed on the ball. He completed 170 of his 183 passes, giving him a pass completion rate of 92 per cent. He also completed six of his 11 dribbles, created four chances and scored his second Eredivisie goal against Fortuna Sittard.
| Player | Club | Ball recoveries |
|---|---|---|
|
Aaron Bouwman |
Ajax |
23 |
|
Elijah Dijkstra |
AZ |
22 |
|
Noah Fernandez |
PSV |
17 |
|
Ayoni Santos |
Sparta |
16 |
|
Lucas Jetten |
Cambuur |
16 |
First monthly award
This is the first time Noah Fernandez has been named Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month.
As part of the award, Fernandez receives a €2,500 cheque from Friends Lottery for the PSV Foundation, the club’s charitable foundation. In addition, €5,000 will be donated to the Johan Cruyff Foundation to support community projects.
Noah Fernandez with the award, presented by ESPN reporter Aletha Leidelmeijer.
About the award
The Player of the Month and Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month awards are based on Opta statistics, with more than 60 different metrics taken into account. These statistics are divided into different categories, with specific weightings applied to each position. Players can also receive a bonus based on assessments by an expert panel of former players.
These figures also play a role in determining the Player of the Year and Johan Cruijff Talent of the Year. Both awards are presented at the end of the season during the Eredivisie Awards.
The Player of the Month and Johan Cruijff Talent of the Month awards are an initiative of Eredivisie CV, in collaboration with ESPN, Friends Lottery and the Johan Cruyff Foundation.
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