Under the microscope: How this Bayern Munich loanee has added quality to Rangers’ attack

One of the young players making a mark in the Scottish Premiership is Malik Tillman, who plays for Rangers on loan from Bayern Munich. Since arriving on a season-long loan deal last summer, the United States international has emerged as an impact player for Rangers. The 20-year-old has been one of the top performers for the Gers, with his contributions from the attacking midfield position proving significant. Malik Tillman has a lot more to offer the team than just goals and assists. The young talent stands out for his dribbling, dynamic passing, and defensive contribution, and his strong performances have helped Rangers remain within touching distance of Scottish Premiership leaders Celtic. Below we look at some stats from the current season to access Tillman’s contributions to his team.

Malik Tillman has made 23 Scottish Premiership appearances this season, starting in 18 matches. The 20-year-old has found the back of the net seven times and also has four assists to his name. The above viz shows the percentile rank of the player in comparison to other attacking midfielders in the Scottish Premiership. It can be observed that Tillman has contributed excellently to the attack, and his ability to retain and pass the ball has been impressive. The defending indicators highlight Tillman’s strong sense of positioning along with his ability to contest aerial and defensive duels.

Attacking contributions

Malik Tillman has shown the ability to put himself in scoring positions and has found the back of the net seven times. He averages 1.64 shots per 90 minutes with an accuracy rate of 48.4%. He has accumulated 7.14 xG in total and has an xG per shot of 0.23. The xG map above shows almost all of the shots have been taken from inside the penalty area. Some of the shots that were taken in and around the six-yard box have been accurate in finding the target, and a few have reached the back of the net, highlighting his finishing ability.

The 20-year-old’s proficient ability on the ball is highlighted by his four assists in a Rangers shirt. The above viz shows the shot assists delivered by the attacking midfielder this season. Most of the key passes are directed towards the penalty box, and the others have been a few layoffs provided in the final third and the penalty box. Tillman has created the joint-highest number of big chances (ten) among Rangers players and averages 1.48 shot assists per match.

Progression gameplay

Malik Tillman has shown commitment to helping the team advance with intent through his ability to pick out defence-splitting passes. The attacking midfielder currently averages 32.84 passes per 90 minutes with 79.4% accuracy. He likes to make short passes and possesses the ability to unlock defences with through passes. On average, he makes 3.33 passes to the final third with 66.7% accuracy and 3.28 passes to the opposition’s penalty box with 56.5% accuracy.

One of the key strengths of Tillman’s gameplay is his ability to progress the ball through dribbles and progressive runs. The viz above shows that the midfielder does the majority of his dribbling in the final third and does it with a decent amount of success. He also attempts a few progressive runs through the centre and on the right side while moving up the pitch. Currently, Tillman averages 6.4 dribbles per match with a 54.5% success rate and also makes 2.27 progressive runs per match.

Defensive contribution

Aside from his attacking and creative attributes, Tillman makes a significant contribution in defence for the team. The viz above shows the player’s average defensive territory from this season, and we can see he positions himself near the half-line in the attacking half. The number of defensive actions committed all around the pitch shows the midfielder covers a lot of ground.

Tillman averages 27.55 duels per 90 with a 46.1% win rate. He makes 3.5 interceptions and 6.66 recoveries per match, putting high pressure on the opposition’s midfield region. Furthermore, the player contests 7.24 defensive duels and 3.6 aerial duels per match, winning 55.5% and 44.1% of these contests, respectively.

A move to Rangers has seen Malik Tillman develop into an important player for the team with regular first-team experience. His contribution to the attacking play is immense, along with the goals and assists he has registered. He also contributes when out of possession with notable defensive attributes. With only ten rounds to go, Rangers will be hoping Tillman’s presence in the midfield can help them close the gap at the top of the table.