If you’re a fan of stats then you’ll love this one!
Kristoffer Ajer and Filip Benkovic both have made it into the top ten of aerially dominant defenders outside the top big five leagues.
These stats show the percentage of the aerial duels won this season by dominant centre backs and there are some familiar names in the top ten for Celtic fans.
Hearts defender Christophe Berra tops the list with a percentage of 86.9%. We have to go down to fifth to find Kristoffer Ajer who has really risen to prominence in the past six months with a percentage of 85.2% of aerial battles won.
Benkovic is in number nine with 84.4% of duels won.
Former Celtic defender Thomas Rogne just makes the top ten with his side Lech Poznan. The former Parkhead hopeful carving out a good career for himself after leaving Glasgow.
These stats may seem irrelevant to some, but it should give Celtic fans some faith in the big Norweigan defender who is likely to be our most talented defender come the summer once Boyata and Benkovic leave.
Stats by (Football Observatory)Â
