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As most of the leagues have reached mid-season, we thought it might be a good time to praise the players who have improved their game the most this season.
While a number of players haven't performed up to their expected levels, several others have drastically improved. In this article, we are focusing on defensive players who have unexpectedly improved their game.
On that note, here is a look at a defensive backline made up of the most-improved players this season:
#5 Ederson (Goalkeeper)
I remember the time when people were calling for Joe Hart's return to Manchester City during the peak of Claudio Bravo's personal mission to never ever make a save again. That seems like a long time ago, mainly because Ederson, a summer arrival at the Etihad from Benfica has slotted right into the city team and has immediately looked like a the part of this team.
Winning the Primeira Liga with Benfica, getting his first international cap, he was proving that he is going to be a star man. He is probably on his way to a truckload of more silverware this year with Manchester City.
In season 2016-17, Bravo played 22 games while conceding 1.2 goals per game. On the other hand, Ederson has played 27 games this season, conceding only 0.6 goals per game. Apart from these numbers, on an average, Ederson has saved 69% shots while Bravo managed to save only 58% shots.
These stats are enough to prove that Guardiola has found a perfect replacement for Bravo.
#4 Aleksandar Kolarov (Left-back)
Pretty much everyone agreed that Manchester City's full-backs were what was holding them back from becoming an elite side last year, which is why it's so great that a man who was universally part of the problem has reformed himself.
Aleksandar Kolarov has been tearing it up at his new club Roma, and the Serie A side got him just for €6 million.
The Serbian has already been touted as one of the signings of the season in Italy and despite his history, most Roma fans are taking him to heart immediately because when he's banging free kicks with that left foot of his, how could you not take him to heart.
In the 2016-17 season, he scored only one goal. Playing for Roma this season, he has already scored 2 goals. He has also assisted 4 goals, and these are pretty good numbers for a defender. During his time at Manchester City, he was a good defender, but at Roma, he is also a better playmaker.
#3 Phil Jones (Centre-back)
Phil Jones has been the Premier League's most targeted player with his funny facial expressions, improbable approach to defending and tendency to slide around on his knees instead of staying on his feet.
But this season, Jones has established himself as a first-team regular under Jose Mourinho. In fact, Mourinho has said that Phil Jones has got all the qualities he likes in a central defender. United definitely look more strong with him in the bank of defensive four.
During the 2014-15 season, he had a clearance rate of 2.4 per game, but in the last two seasons, he has had a clearance rate of 6.7. The most important change we have seen in Jones, is his ability to tackle when he is one-on-one with a forward player. Before last season he struggled to win single duels, but this season he has won 4.7 duels per game.
#2 Harry Maguire (Centre-back)
Every time we see Harry Maguire playing, we think is he one of the signings of this season. Eyebrows were raised at the price tag of €20 million that Leicester paid for the young centre-back but he's already started to look worth the fee.
The important thing about him is that he has carried his form for this season, unlike some players who perform well for a certain period and then vanish away. As the result of his good performance, he may even earn a spot in the English national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Maguire has great vision and control of the ball which has helped his team defend well. He has 2 goals and 4 assists with a passing accuracy of 79% in Premier League. In fact, Maguire is the only player on the team who has the ability to bring the ball out of the defensive area and start the attack.
#1 Joshua Kimmich (Right-back)
Joshua Kimmich may have made his name at RB Leipzig as a central midfielder but his incredible versatility has seen him convert into a world-class right-back at Bayern Munich, and he hasn't disappointed there either.
Technically superb, with an eternal eye for goal, it's no wonder he's been named as the natural replacement for retired Philipp Lahm. To fill in the empty shoes of Lahm wasn't an easy task for Kimmich but he has done an excellent job.
Joshua Kimmich has been playing with supreme confidence this season and as result, many people are calling him the best right-back in the world right now.
Before the start of the season, no one would have thought that Kimmich would play this well, but he has clearly improved his game a lot. Showing his midfielder's instincts, he has also assisted seven times this season.
