Feyenoord forward Ayase Ueda has massively contributed to the victory of his national team Japan, this Wednesday, scoring a brace against Indonesia, in the AFC Asian Cup group stage third round game.
Ayase could be interesting for Saudi Professional League clubs like Slaven Bilic’s Al-Fateh, who like to play with a target man up front to allow their star winger Mourad Batna to attack forward half-spaces.
Ayase has imposed himself as a valuable asset in between the lines against Indonesia, playing back to goal, and being the linking point on whom his teammates stand to progress the play, as he has shown the quality of fighting for his ball, quickly combining and preparing for his compatriots while dragging the opposing center-backs.
Though, he needs players who have smart positioning and get near from him like Takefusa Kubo did in this game, who got the better of Ayase by getting in places that makes it easier for him to play the right pass.
In the air, he has the physical qualities to dominate his man when trying to set balls for his teammate as a target man, but he can be too aggressive with his hands, which causes fouls.
His movements behind the back of defenders were impressive, either to immediately receives the pass or to pull defenders and create spaces for another colleague to do so, as he did in the action of the second goal.
But in the counter-attacks, the player can become a liability because of his slowness and lack of agility and can easily be tracked by backmen.
Also when he makes the right run in behind, his first touch was not great and has not shown fast reaction to immediately hit quick balls.
Even when he got the ball at his feet in the box, he took more than required time and was giving the defender time to close the angle on him in the game.
Marselino Ferdinan vs Japan: Determined off-ball, bit less interesting on-ball / Scout Report
Reo Hatate vs Indonesia: High Work Rate, Third Man Role, Inaccurate Crossing / Scout Report
Takefusa Kubo: How his through-balls could benefit Cristiano Ronaldo and Sadio Mané in Al-Nassr?
Image Credits: @SPL & @SPL_EN on X.
Saudi World Football 
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