Xaver Schlager shines for Nottingham Forest, and here is how he quietened any doubters | OneFootball

Xaver Schlager’s relentless start has quickly eased early scepticism at Nottingham Forest. According to NY Times, he joined on a free after leaving RB Leipzig and was not intended as a like-for-like for Elliot Anderson, who departed to Manchester City for a club-record £115million.

No Premier League midfielder has more tackles than Schlager with 15, while only Crystal Palace’s Anan Khalaili has more overall on 19. Forest are fifth for ball recoveries with 190, and the new pairing of Schlager on 18 and James McAtee on 19 underlines a promising balance.

He has three league starts, all alongside McAtee, against Liverpool, Tottenham and Aston Villa. Forest drew 2-2 at Anfield, drew 0-0 with Spurs and won 2-1 at Villa Park, and in each game Schlager topped midfielders for tackles.

Head coach Oliver Glasner has lauded the duo for matching elite midfields and for controlling the centre. A prior spell together at Wolfsburg and familiarity with Glasner’s pressing have helped Schlager settle quickly.

At Villa Park he repeatedly switched play to Daniel Munoz to open space and was denied a goal by Zion Suzuki. It was arguably his standout display so far.

Off the pitch he reads widely, cooks Austrian staples and relaxes on the golf course. As a child he even tried goalkeeping, but his perpetual on-field energy now is hard to reconcile with standing still.

Source: NY Times

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”