Leeds United’s Premier League opener has drawn praise for numerous players in the squad, but one previous comment from Declan Rice has since been proven correct.
The Whites win against Everton was a dream start, with Leeds’ midfield showing strong signs of promise and dominance.
One particular player who shone was recently named in the PFA Team of the Season, and posted on Instagram after the game saying ‘this is why I came to Europe.’
And Declan Rice’s assessment of this particular player at the end of last season has been proven right.
Declan Rice during Manchester United v Arsenal - Premier League
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Declan Rice’s words on Ao Tanaka prove to be correct
A few months ago, Declan Rice spoke to Japanese outlet BS11, the Arsenal midfielder and former West Ham captain praised Ao Tanaka especially. Rice described Tanaka as “unbelievable” and and admitted his joy at Leeds’ promotion.
“There’s a few good players. The guy at Leeds, he’s an unbelievable player. Is it Tanaka? Top player, I’ve watched him play. The Championship gets shown on the TV all the time and Leeds are a massive club.
“It’s good to have them back in the Premier League – but I know he’s been like their Player of the Season. I’ve seen him play, he’s a good player, really energetic and good on the ball,” Rice said about Tanaka.
With Leeds’ next game being against Arsenal on Saturday, Rice will likely come up against the impressive Tanaka, and he’ll know he is up for a tough contest.
Ao Tanaka during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
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Ao Tanaka’s game against Everton in numbers
In Leeds’ narrow 1-0 victory over Everton, Ao Tanaka was a pivotal figure and rightly earned the “Player of the Match” award.
His influence as the midfield anchor was immense, reflected in his FotMob stats: a tireless 10.8 km covered with a top speed of 28.4 km/h.
Tanaka’s control of the game was excellent, completing 42 of 46 passes while also contributing to the attack with two chances created and three touches in the opposition’s box.
The winning goal came from a late penalty, and while Tanaka wasn’t directly involved in the winning penalty incident, his relentless pressing and five recoveries throughout the match were crucial.
This sustained pressure and rhythm, a hallmark of his performance, ultimately wore down Everton. A shot from Anton Stach led to the penalty after a handball by James Tarkowski, which Lukas Nmecha converted for the victory.
Tanaka’s tireless performance was instrumental in setting the stage for Leeds’ decisive moment, a truly ‘unbelievable’ player.