UEFA Best Player: who was the best player of the Champions League? Substitute Rodrygo brought about an unprecedented turnaround

The Champions League semi-final rematch was extremely dramatic and football-rich – both in goals and performances – and decided who will fight for the world’s most valuable club trophy in the final in Paris. As usual, Ruik.cz, which represents the Czech Republic in the Best Player UEFA poll of the German magazine Kicker, was looking for the best player of this part of the competition. Brazilian youngster Rodrygo brought an unprecedented turnaround from the substitute position.

It was a feast for the eyes, a caress on the soul of a football fan. Both semi-final rematches had the overtones of ancient drama, hope and feelings of doom, joy and despondency mingled in heart-stopping surprises. All this was offered by the duels between the English and Spanish teams.

Almost already on the road strewn with roses, Manchester City players were entering, but Real Madrid proved why it has the nickname of royalty. At the end of an already almost lost battle, the match was turned around, the famous French canon Karim Benzema came through in extra time and the White Ballet will dance again in the final celebration.

The hero, however, was twenty-one-year-old Brazilian youngster Rodrygo. “I’m absolutely clear about the man of the round,” gives his vote to Milan Sterba, chief commentator of the Nova Sport television station, which broadcasts the Champions League and devotes extensive space to the competition. “Rodrygo, as a substitute, has ensured the resurrection of the Spanish club, and it is mainly thanks to him that Real are facing the final again,” says Štěrba.

The 1976 European champion Antonín Panenka is of the same opinion. “Rodrygo revived the game immensely and, above all, scored two goals that saved Real from elimination,” says the author of the unforgettable penalty from the Belgrade European Championship final. “He’s in form,” adds Panenka.

Erich Brabec, a permanent member of the jury, also joins in. “Two goals in two minutes, amazing,” he gushes over the young Brazilian’s shooting feats. “On the first one, he cleverly ran into an advantageous position, expecting Benzema to knock the ball away. On the second, it was a lot harder because he reacted to a teammate’s run, but he hit it brilliantly,” Brabec breaks down the goals.

However, Karel Brettschneider, bookmaker at the Chance bookmaker, chose a different hero. “It was assumed that it was going to come down to which offensive star was going to shine,” he admits that the focus was on the forwards. “In the end, you could say they were all overshadowed by the Real goalkeeper. Of the nine shots on target, he got away with only one, which, moreover, he probably couldn’t stop,” he argues why he opted for the burly Belgian.

And he adds more insights. “Manchester City was more active shooting and had more than enough opportunities to make a decision,” Brettschneider points out. “But Courtois gave a reliable performance and solved all City’s chances. He had some difficult saves and held his team up,” he points out.

He is keeping a close eye on the Royal Club’s goalkeeping position. “As a fan of Keylor Navas, I wasn’t too thrilled that he was preferred to him a few years ago,” admits Brettschneider.

“This season, however, he has avoided the excesses that previously accompanied him and has become a real mainstay for Real,” he praises the Belgian international’s contribution. “We’ll see how he does in the final, where he probably won’t be bored either,” Brettschneider is already looking towards the Champions League’s summit duel.

The result put the performances of the English champion’s players, which were also magnificent, on the back burner. “They are all excellent kickers,” Panenka does not hide his admiration for the skill of the winners and losers.

“They are in excellent shape, speed-wise, they solve even difficult situations in a footballing way, no mindless kicking, they know how to handle themselves,” he continues to praise. Even in the English team he found his best player. “Bernardo Silva,” he points to the Portuguese midfielder. “What he has done and what an excellent kicking technique he has,” says Panenka.

Real’s clash with Manchester City somewhat overshadowed another Spanish-English clash, which was also extremely dramatic and also offered a 180-degree turn. That one had its own personalities, too. “I liked Luis Diaz,” Stirba picks out the Colombian midfielder or winger at Liverpool.

“He came on at half-time when his team was down and he wasn’t up to Villarreal at all in the first half. He contributeda lot to the turnaround with his goal,” he recalls. “So in every game the substitutes came through,” Štěrba returns to the second encounter. “There was a lot to admire in this match as well,” Brabec agrees.

Jury vote:

Erich Brabec:: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Karel Brettschneider:: Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid)

Antonín Panenka:: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Milan Sterba:: Rodrygo (Real Madrid)

Source: UEFA