![]() ![]() In both circumstances, Édouard was encouraged to isolate his opposing central defender before attacking crosses or receiving between the lines, and ultimately to shoot at goal. Instead of being the player to provide the cross, Édouard represented their leading goal threat, both when crosses were being delivered and via combinations through central territory, potentially when the runs of his strike partner represented decoy movements. With their sole defensive midfielder targeting either the midfielders in front of him or their front two, the striker alongside Édouard made similar runs in behind, potentially wide, contributing to Édouard instead being the striker to receive in the centre or offer secondary support. In both systems David Turnbull often featured as their number 10, from where he also offered attacking support Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic were their senior central midfielders, and both moved from the inside channels and provided their width when they evolved to attack with a 4-1-3-2. When their full-backs resisted advancing, Édouard's runs around his opposing central defenders contributed to Celtic penetrating in behind their opponents and to feeding his fellow striker. From within a front two, he made an increased number of runs through wide territory and in behind, particularly doing so when those in central midfield had withdrawn into deeper positions or drifted wide. Édouard consistently featured in a front two at Celtic across 2020/21, when their preferred shapes were a four-diamond-two (below) and a 3-5-2 in which Albian Ajeti, Leigh Griffiths and Mohamed Elyounoussi were likeliest to feature alongside him. Instead of bouncing the ball into the third man running centrally, movements in wider positions can lead to opportunities from which to cross, when he is effective at delivering low, driven efforts, and at curving his runs around the outside of his opposing defenders. Runs into or through wider territory, similarly, help to create goalscoring chances for those around him. His awareness means that those forward runs register with him, often leading to incisive, third-man combinations and early releases of possession to encourage those teammates to penetrate in behind. ![]() Those same movements into deeper territory (below) are also occasionally followed by Édouard linking with teammates offering supporting runs, even if his priority often remains to instead shoot at goal. That same composure also exists inside the penalty area, where he often successfully moves the ball away from pressure, and which proves particulalry valuable against compact low blocks or emergency defending. He remains as focused on creating potential goalscoring opportunites when he drifts wider to occupy the inside channels, from where his ability to disguise doing so, and his composure, impresses instead of rushing his execution, he favours placing his attempts into the corners of the goal. ![]() If his back is instead to goal (below) he can retain the ball and then roll infield in an attempt to shoot as early as possible. He subtly drifts away from his marker to receive between the lines and then create opportunities to shoot at goal, potentially from outside of the penalty area. When withdrawing away from opposing defenders and towards the ball, Édouard adopts effective positions in which to receive it. That he can then slow down and compose himself – perhaps against increased defensive pressure or if confronted by a goalkeeper – or change direction effectively to create new angles to shoot at goal enhances that variety. ![]() When advancing in behind his upper-body strength is significant in him holding off opposing defenders, and his explosive pace complements him doing so regardless of whether he has the ball. That same variety extends to his movements, which involve him withdrawing into deeper territory as often as he runs in behind and through on goal like a traditional striker. Édouard favours his right foot, but he is also a capable finisher with his left, and has therefore demonstrated a wide variety of techniques to score (below) with both feet that includes both powerful drives and more delicate touches. ![]()
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