WhoScored 2020 Rewind: Theo Hernandez among best left-backs in Europe
As we continue our construction of the Team of 2020 across Europe's top five leagues, we move onto left-backs this time around, picking out the four with our highest ratings over the year gone by.
While the right-back/wing-back category was perhaps a little underwhelming by comparison, it's very competitive on the opposite flank, with some notable names missing out once again. Indeed, their isn't a single Premier League representative, with two players from Serie A and the Bundesliga respectively pipping the likes of Andrew Robertson and Lucas Digne to a place in our top four.
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4) Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich) - 7.31 rating
The fact that Davies is among the quartet won't come as a surprise to many, but perhaps the fact that he doesn't make the podium would. In truth, the youngster just misses out on a medal having failed to reach the same sensational heights he managed in 2019/20 in a season that has so far been disrupted by injury. That said, there is no doubt the Canadian is a world class player in the making, having a hand in five league goals in the second half of last season, whilst averaging 2.3 dribbles and 2 tackles per game over the course of the year.
3) Robin Gosens (Atalanta) - 7.31 rating
Pipping Davies into third by the narrowest of margins, Gosens attacking output from left wing-back has been nothing short of remarkable of late. The German is absolutely pivotal to Atalanta's scintiliating attacking football and over the course of 2020 had a direct hand in 15 goals in 30 league appearances, scoring eight and assisting seven. At 26 he's been a relatively late bloomer but is surely now the first choice option for his national side ahead of Euro 2020 and will no doubt be on the radar of some of Europe's biggest clubs in the summer, if not this month.
2) Theo Hernandez (AC Milan) - 7.36 rating
One of many that got away from Real Madrid, Los Blancos' loss has been AC Milan's monumental gain, with Hernandez emerging as a hugely important player for the awoken Serie A giant. The 23-year-old is seemingly improving with every game for the Rossoneri and has had a direct hand in seven goals this season alone, stretching to 11 in 33 appearances over the previous calendar year. Superb across the board, the Frenchman averaged 1.7 tackles, 1.7 dribbles and 1.4 key passes per game in 2020.
1) Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund) - 7.48
Out clear in first from a very strong field, Guerreiro's margin of victory is indicative of a player who is improving with every season to become an outstanding attacking threat down the left. In 27 Bundesliga appearances in 2020, the Portugal international scored eight goals and registered a further six assists, five of which have come in just eight starts in a season that to now has been disrupted by muscle injuries. When fit, however, the 27-year-old has been in fine form, creating the second most chances per 90 (3.3) in the division.
