UEFA Best Player: who was the best player of the Champions League 1st round? Sébastien Haller scored four goals

A new edition of the world’s most exclusive club competition, the Champions League, is underway. The ruik.cz portal, which represents the Czech Republic in the Best Player UEFA poll of the German magazine Kicker, is again looking for the best player of each phase. Ajax Amsterdam knew very well why they spent a record amount for Sébastien Haller.

A new star has shone in the European football sky. He had flashed before, former French youth international Sébastien Haller was rising high, two years ago English club West Ham United spent a sum of 50 million euros (about 1.3 billion crowns) for him but did not repay the cost.

So this year, the management of Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam decided to buy the Ivory Coast international out of his misery, pulling out a club-record €22.5 million (approximately 585 million crowns) from the coffers and possibly hitting the jackpot. “Ajax knew very well why they spent such money on him,” says Czech international Erich Brabec.

The 27-year-old striker was also voted the best player of the Champions League first round by Karel Brettscheinder, bookmaker at bookmaker Chance. “Four goals is a sure ticket to the best player nomination,” he is clear.

“Especially if this stunt is achieved in the first Champions League match of his career. Sébastien Haller is in his prime and seems to have finally found his promised club,” discusses Karel Brettscheinder

And gives an overview of the player’s career so far. “In Europe, the Ivory Coast striker has been in four different competitions in four different countries and, on his return to the Dutch league, has followed up his excellent performances in the Utrecht jersey,” he recalls.

“His next engagement at Frankfurt was a success and took him to the Premier League, where things were not so glorious. At Ajax, he shot again and has the potential to continue his offensive rampage in this team, as the Sporting goalkeeper would probably agree…” points out Brettscheinder on the four goals in the net of the Portuguese champion, who had not lost 22 games at home before.

Brabec, another regular member of the jury, also pointed to Haller. “An outstanding performance, precise finishing, you just don’t see such a stunt on the opponent’s ground,” he gushes about Haller’s hits.

But he also considered other personalities. “Another French native, Nkunku, scored three times for Leipzig at Manchester City,” he also finds an amazing shooting record.

Günter Bittengel, the former Czechoslovakia and Czech international, relies on a proven great. His choice is straightforward:: Robert Lewandowski, the Polish sniper of Bayern Munich. “Two goals on Barcelona’s pitch speaks for itself,” Bittengel emphasises.

“But especially the tackle! The way he orientated himself after the ball bounced off the bar and, above all, the precise and emphatic finish. For me, still one of the best players in Europe, if not the best,” says Bittengel.

The Champions League has taken off at an impressive pace and once again has something and, more importantly, someone to offer.

Jury vote:

Günter Bittengel:: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)

Erich Brabec:: Sébastien Haller (Ajax Amsterdam)

Karel Brettscheinder:: Sébastien Haller (Ajax Amsterdam)

Source: UEFA