“I WANTED him to play more towards the box.”
Speaking to BT Sport following a 2-0 win over Sparta Prague, Giovanni van Bronckhorst repeated what every Rangers fan had stipulated time and again in the season so far.
Alfredo Morelos had looked like he'd lost his edge in the weeks leading up to a Europa League double. Playing a refined role, his deep-lying link play had started to limit the impact he could make on games. The 2019 version of Morelos felt so far away.
Six goals in eight starts later, there is justified excitement that a change in regime has suited the Colombian. The altered tactical structure has decreased the reliance placed upon him to get the ball into the box and instead increased his scoring responsibility.
“As you said, he’s a piece of the jigsaw,” Van Bronckhorst said in his press conference after the Sparta tie.
“If all the pieces are right then we are a good team. Of course, he is the striker so he will be getting the most chances out of the players on the pitch. I like him to be sharp, I like him to be in the box and when we are pushing very high up the pitch and getting the crosses in, he has to be there.”
That vision outlined back in November has materialised successfully. Morelos' underlying numbers have risen with his goal tally.
Let’s compare his StatsBomb radar from the seven Scottish Premiership matches played under Van Bronckhorst to the ten under Steven Gerrard this season.
Per 90, his touches in the box have increased from 10.49 to 14.21. His xG has also risen from 0.51 to 0.74. His xG assisted 0.09 to 0.40.
The slight increase in his xG/shot and shots taken per game is clear when looking at his output in greater detail.
His shot map from August to his final league game under Gerrard saw him rack up an xG of 4.94 from 45 shots, returning four goals.
But since the arrival of Van Bronckhorst, an xG of 4.97 has been attained through 37 shots and the same number of league goals returned. In three fewer matches.
Van Bronckhorst’s system suits Morelos. As The Rangers Review wrote when the new manager was announced, his past use of strikers as the team’s focal point looked set to suit the robust features of Morelos’ game.
"Conclusively, and encouragingly, it appears Morelos is falling on the wrong side of small margins. Whether that be the quality of shot taken, the pressure put on the ball or touches in the opposing box.
"By simplifying his role, altering the support structure and providing a freshness - Van Bronckhorst may just be able to bring back the very best of his No.20 on a consistent basis."
Because the side is finding different ways to unlock space against deep-sitting opponents, Morelos can be a penalty-box presence.
It's not as if Morelos isn't assisting build-up at all. He is averaging more passes per game and his xGBuildup has increased. Coinciding with a general upturn in team performance, his final third role has been greatly simplified.
This shot map shows the five times he connected with crosses against St Mirren. Importantly, the location of these efforts demonstrates his frequenting of the penalty area.
Compare that to an earlier game of the season against Hearts where despite an xG of 1.51, Morelos couldn’t find the net. Compare the location of all his shots to only the five originating from crosses on Sunday.
Morelos is playing more towards the box, just as his manager asked at the start. His form and team are feeling the benefit.
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