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Left-back: Aleksandar Kolarov (AS Roma)
The Giallorossi’s revelation last season, Kolarov’s attacking juices have dried up this season. Age may have been a factor - he turned 33 last November - or his form might have really just dipped - whichever way you slice it, Kolarov’s decline from 14 assists in 2017/18 to only two this season is dramatic. And he was virtually non-existent in Roma’s European outings. Just a single assist in eight appearances, and that’s all (s)he wrote.
Centre-back: Presnel Kimpembe (PSG)
As talented and highly rated as Kimpembe is, the youngster has stuck like a sore thumb in two big games which changed PSG’s fortunes. Firstly, he struck an own goal in the French Cup final which put Rennes on their way to the trophy, and just a few weeks before that, he conceded a penalty against Manchester United after a handball in the dying embers that knocked PSG out. He was often found out of position and provided little steel to the backline as the French champions conceded 12 goals in eight games, registering only one clean-sheet.
Centre-back: Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan)
Skriniar’s Champions League debut was far from impressive. The Slovakian centre-back who’s been pulling up trees in the league since joining the Nerazzurris, couldn’t replicate his heroics on the big stage. In an admittedly tough group against Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and PSV Eindhoven, Skriniar’s defensive exploits were put through a wringer, but alas, it didn’t come out with flying colours this time.
Right-back: Ashley Young (Manchester United)
Young might have been just above average in the Premier League, but the European nights this season saw his worst. The Red Devils fullback’s interceptions fell from 1.9 in the league to just one in the Champions League, tackles from 1.7 to 1.6, dribbles from 0.6 to 0.3, and long balls from 3.7 to 1.6. But if there’s one thing he was better at here, then that was committing fouls - which went up from 1.2 to 1.6 in this competition. enough said...
