But, since the start of the playoffs, these two individuals like others have not been able to play at their best level. Focus, with supporting statistics, on those who should enable the Union to raise the bar in the title race.
Anthony Morris
Moris is what we call a reliable goalkeeper. Since his arrival at the Union, the captain has shown that he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Pro League. Before attacking the Champions Playoffs, the Luxembourg international had completed a full classic phase with only 30 goals conceded in 29 matches. In all competitions, Moris had only conceded 51 goals in 45 matches without making a big mistake. But, in the playoffs, the level of the 33-year-old goalkeeper dropped with two blunders in three games: a failed outing on the only goal at Genk and a poorly stored ball against Anderlecht. In total, Moris has already conceded six goals in these playoffs with a last successful clean sheet six games ago. The one who took responsibility for the press after his mistakes must once again become the leader who helps his team earn points.
Cameron Puertas
Relegated to the background by Karel Geraerts last season, Puertas has been the technical leader of the Union since the start of the season. Seven days before the end of the championship, the 25-year-old already has three times more playing time than last season (3,861 versus 1,153 minutes) and five times more decisive actions (29 versus 6). But this Olympic form has stopped at the dawn of the playoffs he who admitted during the truce to feeling tired. In this final stretch, Puertas has only attempted one key pass in three games and has only scored one goal (from a penalty). During the classic phase, he had managed 16 assists in 30 matches… If his expected goals were saved by his penalty against Anderlecht (1.76), it was only 0.04 against Genk and 0.16 against the Circle proving that his influence was less present in his team's play. The Swiss must regain his vision and his ability to recover balls to be more decisive in these playoffs. And thus maintain a high rating on the transfer market for him who, certainly leaving this summer, has seen his market value increase from 1.2 to 11 million euros since June.
Lazare Amani
The quality of his classic phase allowed him to secure, to everyone's surprise, a selection for the African Cup of Nations with Ivory Coast last January. Winner of the CAN having played the semi-final and the final, Lazare only found a starting place at the Union during the first day of the playoffs. In this mini-championship, the attacking midfielder did not target a single one of his shots, only completed 5 dribbles out of 13 and won only 22 duels out of 67, he who is one of the spearheads when the Union begins to press high. Returned to the bench against Anderlecht, the man who recently received a warning from the Prosecutor's Office for complaining about refereeing decisions on Instagram may have been living at the Union in recent weeks. To do this, he will have to succeed in putting himself forward again for the collective, as he knew how to do recently.
Mohammed Amoura
In its latest report, the Football Observatory calculated that Amoura was the most impactful striker in the world, outside five major championships, over the last 365 days. The Algerian owes this first place to his impressive classic phase completed with a decisive action every 76 minutes (17 goals and 2 assists in 1441 minutes). But his start to the playoffs does not match his talent. The one who shot on average 3.25 times per match did not put a single shot on target during the playoffs for a total Xg of 0.08. The match against Anderlecht reflects well his current discomfort : zero shots, zero successful dribbles and zero offensive duels won in 81 minutes played. Masked since his collision with a referee during a recent international meeting, Amoura must regain his level if he wants to secure his long-awaited transfer this summer, who has seen his value increase from 4.5 to 16 million euros since start of the season.
Alexander Blessin must revive the Union by asking more from his players and finding winning coaching
