FC Schalke 04: We have to talk about how good Amine Harit’s passing is
Amine Harit was named the best Bundesliga player for the month of September, and the FC Schalke 04 attacking midfielder is already off to a brilliant October heading into the Revierderby clash on Saturday.
Nobody ever doubted Amine Harit’s talent. The 22-year-old Moroccan midfielder first made a name for himself in the 2017-2018 campaign with his clever tricks, darting runs, and creativity, and after being misused last season, Harit is establishing himself as one of the brightest stars in all of European football.
Harit gathered most of his plaudits for an outside-the-boot game-winner against Mainz, as that goal will go down as one of the best moments of the 2019-2020 Bundesliga season. But Harit also deserves praise for how much hard work he’s put in to set up teammates this season, as the statistics paint the picture of a No. 10 flirting with the “world-class” label.
According to SofaScore.com, only eight players have recorded more key passes than Harit’s 17. And of the players with at least 15 key passes, only Joshua Kimmich and Kai Havertz, who are both rated as “world-class” by most football observers, have a higher pass completion percentage.
Better yet, Harit has turned up the heat lately. In each of his past three games, Harit has recorded at least three key passes, including a masterful performance in a 2-0 loss to Hoffenheim in which he had three key passes, 41 total passes, and a pass completion percentage of 90.8%. (All stats here courtesy of WhoScored.com.)
So you can see that Harit is a dangerous man when he’s on the ball. You can always tell the gears are turning in his head whenever he drops off deeper in midfield to pick up the ball. Against Hoffenheim, he sprayed teasing balls to the likes of Ahmed Kutucu and Guido Burgstaller, either spreading the opposition wide with Kutucu or looking to spring Burgstaller loose in the box.
What prevents Harit from being more regarded for his passes is the lack of an end product from the strikers. Rabbi Matondo is still just on the cusp of breaking out, Kutucu needs more minutes, Benito Raman’s comfort level isn’t quite there yet, and Burgstaller has yet to score this season despite having 3.4 expected goals.
Most fans look at assists in order to judge the best passers, which is why Jadon Sancho, who led all players in Europe last season in this category, deservedly receives plaudits for his passing. But Harit’s passing is arguably more creative, adventurous, and sharper; it’s just that he doesn’t have world-class finishers like Marco Reus and Paco Alcacer to finish off his moves.
Schalke do have quality pieces who just need a little more time, such as Kutucu and Matondo. And while they continue their development, they won’t have to worry about lacking a playmaker capable of getting them the ball.
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As joyful as it is to watch Harit weave his way through defenses with his agility and prolific technical skill, his game is about so much more than his athletic tools or precise footwork. Harit is legitimately one of the Bundesliga’s most devastating passers with his arsenal of killer balls.
As such, at any given moment, he can provide the moment of quality for his teammates that turns a game on its head. Borussia Dortmund had better be ready for Harit’s best on Saturday.