Top 10 defenders from the 2015-2016 season

Gerard Pique has had another great season for Barcelona

Flashiness is an aspect loved by almost everyone. It is one of the reasons why the Flash is such a favourite among comic book readers. Indeed, Quicksilver’s unprecedented scene in X-Men: Days of the Future Past was the favourite sequence of the movie for many.

In football, it is the forwards that catch the eye of the fans the most with their mazy dribbles and knack for scoring goals. The defenders are there to clean up the mess—and only a very few people like cleaning the mess.

However, while many might argue with this, the sweepers are just as important to a hospital as the doctors are and it is no different in football—forwards win you games, defenders win you championships (except, of course, if you are Atletico Madrid).

And here are the 10 best defenders from the 2015-16 season…

1) Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid)

When Atletico Madrid signed Jose Gimenez, he was only a teenager who looked upon as the heir apparent to Diego Godin’s throne for Uruguay. Hence, it was only logical to name him as the successor to the chair with the Rojiblancos as well.

His breakthrough tournament came in the form of the U20 World Cup in 2013. He was an indispensable member of the team that only lost out in the final of the tournament to France.

Atletico Madrid saw the potential he had and snapped him for a miserly €1 million. By the second half of his second season with the club, he established as the first choice alongside his compatriot and idol, Diego Godin. And now, if rumours are to be believed, Real Madrid are interested in signing him for a mammoth €51 million.

This season was his finest in professional football. He did what Raphael Varane had done in the latter’s breakthrough season. Atletico Madrid have conceded only 18 goals in La Liga this season and his heroic displays was one of the key reasons for it.

His stats are outrageous for someone his age as well. In 27 league games, he has an average of 2.1 tackles-per-game and 2.5 interception-per-game, which is even bettered by 5.4 clearances in each game.