Creativity, composure and ever-present influence: Why Reijnders is one of Europe’s best midfielders | OneFootball

AC Milan are having a torrid 2024-25 campaign, and there have been few positives in it. One of them though, without a doubt, has been Tijjani Reijnders.

How bad has this season been for Milan so far? Generationally bad. They find themselves ninth in the Serie A table, and on course to ‘secure’ their second-ever worst league finish since the turn of the millennium.

They were also knocked out of the Champions League by Feyenoord, having surrendered a top eight spot in the final round of the ‘league phase’. The Coppa Italia feels like all that can salvage some of the wreckage, though even on that front a tough second leg against Inter awaits.

Milan’s historic league finishes since 2005-06.

That loss to Feyenoord by the way came against a side who just a few days before the first leg, sacked their head coach and sold their star player and goalscorer – Santiago Gimenez – to none other than Milan themselves. It was branded a humiliation in the Italian press, and for a reason.

Managerial changes, alleged player bust-ups, public criticism, uninspiring performances, dismal results, Curva Sud protests, a Supercoppa Italiana win and boycotts amongst a 125th anniversary ‘celebration’ – it would be fair to say it’s been quite a season.

One of the few shining lights in the storm has been the performances of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders, as Mussaver Ahmedi writers. They have earned him a contract extension, as the club persuaded him to renew his deal until 2030.

The Milan directors liked what they saw and were sure to get his signature (one of their few sound judgments this year). At the time of writing, he has 14 goals and four assists in all competitions, a stark improvement from the four of each in his debut season in Lombardy.

He has never been in richer form in front of a goal. After scoring on Friday night in the 4-0 rout of Udinese, he now has the most goals by a central midfielder in Europe’s top five leagues (as the data below shows).

Top goal scorers from central midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues [via Transfermarkt].

Despite Milan’s turbulent season on and off the pitch and with star players suffering such as Rafael Leao and Theo Hernandez, Reijnders has been Milan’s most consistent and talismanic player alongside Christian Pulisic.

Milan’s top attacking performers in Serie A this season [via Opta Analyst].

The numbers show this. He is Milan’s top scorer in the league and non-penalty goals in all competitions; a player whose modus operandi is the role of a regista, operating from the centre of midfield.

He is taking the most shots and is outperforming his xG (Expected Goals, measuring the quality of a chance) quite considerably. This suggests a decrease in sustainability for future seasons, but certainly indicates his outperformance this year, going above and beyond his expectations.

His neat finishes against Empoli and Hellas Verona in particular show his calmness and immense technical ability in front of goal, composure that was perhaps lacking a bit during his debut season at the club.

Reijnders’ influence and ever-presence are shown in his touch map (below). The midfielder pops up everywhere, covering nearly every blade of grass. This could be filling in defensive holes as well as in more advanced positions, in between the lines.

His pass map paints a similar picture: ever involved, forward-thinking and accomplished (below).

Comparatively speaking, Reijnders leads the way with passes and successful passes into the final third, making him Milan’s most efficient creative performer.

He is in second place for most open play passes, just 80 behind Youssouf Fofana, and just two behind Christian Pulisic for most through balls in the squad. His passing accuracy of 89% is equally as impressive, the same accuracy as defenders who generally play safer, risk-averse, non-threatening balls.

Milan’s most accurate passers this season.

Not only has his neat and accurate forward passing been impressive, but equally so is his ability to drive with the ball with speed and grace. Despite having quick, talented dribblers in the side such as Leao, Theo and Pulisic, Reijnders has made the most ball carries and by over 1000m, travelled the furthest with the ball as well as progressive ball carries.

Milan’s top dribblers and ball carries this season.

Reijnders is a ticking metronome with his distribution, but he has also exhibited an ability to drive with the ball into space and cover ground easily, spearheading counter-attacks.

The former AZ Alkmaar man has shown the character and confidence in such a challenging season to take it upon himself to charge the team on, like an army general leading The Thin Red (and black) Line.

Simply put, the 26-year-old has become a dynamic, ever-present, influential game controller, but also his match-defining characteristics. He is at the centre of all attacks and is the beating heart of the team. This reliability and consistency in answering the call of duty is something other players have lacked, with increasingly erratic performances.

This development in his game has made Reijnders versatile and transformed him from a central midfielder or regista with deep playmaking abilities to a more proactive box-to-box, roaming playmaker role. In keeping with the American ownership of the club, he is surely Milan’s MVP this season.

Given the fact that some notable European suitors – such as Manchester United, Manchester City and Real Madrid – started to sniff around, all of whom could do with an injection of life in their midfield, Milan’s hierarchy acted swiftly. He got a well-deserved pay rise from €1.7m to €3.5m net per year.

There is no doubting that Reijnders is a fan favourite too. When Milan celebrated their 125th anniversary party in December last year, the Curva Sud protested outside, jeering players and members as they arrived, with the exception of Reijnders. He was one of only three players who were applauded.

Looking ahead, no matter which coach is at the helm next season, be it Sergio Conceicao or a more possession-based coach like Roberto De Zerbi or Maurizio Sarri, Reijnders will surely be adept and/or able to adapt.

He is also the latest chapter in a long love story between Milan and the Oranje, one that has seen the legendary triumvirate of Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard and more recently Clarence Seedorf amongst others.

Certainly, a comparison could be made with the latter due to his all round highly technical, intelligent, but also physical play. Seedorf and Reijnders both share an ability to move powerfully and gracefully with the ball, despite not being blessed with an abundance of pace.

Reijnders is on course to follow in his footsteps and be the future of Milan, someone to be built around, the Duomo to the club’s skyline.