The midfielder is an emotional character but has responded well to World Cup heartbreak, as these metrics show
Ao Tanaka's duel success has markedly improved
Ao Tanaka's duel success has markedly improved(Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
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Ao Tanaka has always been a popular figure at Elland Road but last season was largely underwhelming.
Daniel Farke has high standards but even the Leeds United boss spoke to the midfielder about not being overly critical of himself, having said a few weeks into the season that he did not feel up to the level.
The complexity for Tanaka fans was that there was justification for this. Fouls conceded or lost balls had led to goals being leaked, and game-changing ones too. Farke could not fully trust the player, and even recently said the criticism he was getting from some quarters was understandable.
The Japan international would later confess to native media that he had considered leaving Leeds in January. The absence of Premier League minutes between January 31 and March 20 perhaps made him regret not doing so initially.
Ao Tanaka celebrates after scoring for Leeds United against West Ham
Ao Tanaka celebrates after scoring for Leeds United against West Ham(Image: Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
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But Tanaka eventually rediscovered confidence and ended the season well, notably scoring against West Ham United in the FA Cup quarter-finals before starting all eight final games of the season, including the semi-final defeat to Chelsea.
Part of this was due to injury to Anton Stach but he kept his place once the German returned. Farke, like the majority of fans, has always admired Tanaka; his character, his style of play, his emotion.
He is always the last outfielder back in the changing rooms from the warm-up having done an extra sprint or more target practice. Much-loved, empathy was poured out to him from the fanbase after his giveaway led to Brazil’s stoppage-time winner in the World Cup that sent Japan home.
That was his nadir. But, after a wobbly opening few weeks in pre-season, Tanaka has stabilised and finally found his feet, it seems. His numbers show how he has steadied.
Ao Tanaka was left crestfallen after his error at the World Cup
Ao Tanaka was left crestfallen after his error at the World Cup(Image: Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
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Clearly, given only six games have been played this season, one has to be careful when comparing statistics from last season to the current one. But there are glimpses that can offer a bit of insight.
Firstly, his passing accuracy average so far is up from 85% to 89.4%. Perhaps most notably, the ratio of duels he is winning has risen from 46.8% last season to 64.3% so far this time around.
His weakness in the duel was a concern over the prior 18 months but this looks to have been worked on. Another pointer, to support his retention metrics, is that he made just four successful dribbles last season but already has three this term.
In all, he completed just 36.4% of his dribble attempts across 2025/26 - up to this point this campaign, that sits at 75%, albeit is of course a smaller sample size. But the point is, thus far he has made incremental but important improvements given his role.
The heatmaps below shows a subtle change too. Last season, he was more centralised, covering here, there and everywhere without getting too far forward.
Tanaka's heatmap last season
Tanaka's heatmap last season(Image: Fotmob)
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This season, he is staying slightly more locked to the left-side midfield role but is also being allowed to jump forwards more, but is mostly sitting deeper.
Tanaka's heatmap this season
Tanaka's heatmap so far this season(Image: Fotmob)
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His consistency is supported by his touchmaps. In his first league start against Brighton, he was all over the pitch, but mainly in a deeper role.
Tanaka touchmap vs Brighton
Tanaka touchmap vs Brighton(Image: Opta)
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Below is his touchmap against Arsenal. Of course, Leeds were required to be more rigid, but it was Tanaka who often led the press from midfield.
Tanaka had fewer touches but he is remaining consistent in his duties, with the spread of touches more or less the same.
Tanaka touchmap vs Arsenal
Tanaka touchmap vs Arsenal(Image: Opta)
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This was the same against Crystal Palace. Farke clearly still wants Tanaka to be marauding to an extent, just more contained.
Again, these are subtle and almost indistinguishable changes but the numbers outlined above show how this is having a cumulative effect.
Credit must go to Tanaka. He suffered a career low-point at the World Cup, leaving the global stage inconsolable. He will have learnt a lot and is perhaps of the mindset of nothing can be worse than that.
Whatever the case, Tanaka is making improvements. His next task is to keep up that consistency over a longer period. That's how you go from good to great.