Gregor Kobel
Solid, aggressive, and clutch are worthy descriptions for Gregor Kobel this season. Kobel has made his presence felt with his ability to make acrobatic point-blank saves routinely. On numerous occasions, he has either kept Borussia Dortmund in a game in which they had no business being or proved to be a decisive factor to the detriment of the opposition.
Coupled with Mats Hummels’ revival at center-back, he’s proved to be the rock at the back that every club hopes their keeper will be. I mention Hummels because this is a key component of a successful defense. The ability to be reliable in terms of his distribution of the ball in a variety of scenarios and a source of leadership goes a long way.
Kobel’s development has caught the praise of those around the league and he is now firmly in the discussion surrounding the league’s best between the posts.
The 25-year-old is still quite young in relation to his position and his trajectory is only pointing towards further progression into the highest tier of goalkeepers in European football. A lot is required in order for a club to make a run in the Champions League knockout rounds. Elite shot-blocking is a crucial component of this equation.