As a ball-playing center-back, Hummels only attempted 48 passes, with a completion rate of 78%.
Sounds a bit outrageous, doesn't it?
A forward who attempted more passes than the midfielders and even the center-backs.
What's even more outrageous is that despite attempting more passes, his completion rate was actually higher.
If you can't make sense of it, that's the point.
That is the effect of Wang Shuo!
Dortmund's core tactic was to press high up the pitch, win back possession, and launch a quick attack.
But once the ball reached the final third, the play revolved entirely around Wang Shuo.
Placed among the midfielders in the Bundesliga, Wang Shuo's stats were the most eye-catching of all.
Schweinsteiger averaged 66 passes per game with an 85% completion rate, and those were already the best stats for a deep-lying midfielder in the Bundesliga.
And keep in mind, Van Gaal's Bayern was renowned for its possession-based football.
