"?Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara is statistically the best in Europe when it comes to winning the ball back via interceptions high up the pitch.
Rather than sit of opponents until they cross the halfway line, the Bayern man is regularly getting into position to intercept much quicker and therefore taking back possession for his team much closer to goal.
Thiago Alcantara has won 25 interceptions in the opposition's half this season, more than any other player in Europe's top 5 leagues. pic.twitter.com/pkGSHhCH1y
"?"?Of all players in the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1, no player has managed more than Thiago's 25 interception in the opposition's half of the field.
Such a mindset stems from his schooling at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy where winning the ball back as quickly as possible is just as important as keeping possession.
He had further coaching from Pep Guardiola after moving to Bayern in 2013 and is now establishing himself as one of the very best midfield players in the world after fully recovering from a serious injury that wrecked his 2013/14 and 2014/15 campaigns.