Arturo Vidal, first of his name, 'King of the Tackle' with three lungs
The Chilean won over his remaining critics with an outstanding display against Liverpool in the Champions League semi final
"It was a match against a rival who were going to push us to the limit and we thought it was ideal for Arturo. He did incredibly well." That's what Ernesto Valverde said about the Chilean's performance in the 3-0 victory over Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final. It was a frantic contest, intense and one which saw Arturo Vidal emerge as the perfect man to wrestle back control in midfield. This was the type of match he was signed for.
He was often the last line of defence, almost creating another brick wall as Liverpool attempted to gain an advantage in the contest. He was there, winning back possession and looking to set his teammates off on the counterattack. It became clear to the Camp Nou faithful why so many call Arturo the 'King'. He was the 'King of the Tackle' last night.
ARTURO'S STATS PROVE VALVERDE RIGHT
Sometimes stats don't quite tell the whole story or don't back up what your eyes witnessed. However on this occasion they most definitely did. He finished with 89% successful pass accuracy and four interceptions from his four attempts. He barked orders, helped his teammates and stood up as a leader in victory. Of the 15 tackles Barça attempted, 11 were successful. This means that Vidal was responsible for 40% of them. Overall he averages around 87% successful passing accuracy this season and wins 51% of his duels.
His performance didn't go unnoticed back in his native Chile either. He worked tirelessly throughout, a key component of his natural game. Against a tough and strong Liverpool side, his physical nature was important. He also played a part further up the field and created chances for Suarez and Messi, even passing up an opportunity to score when he looked for his teammate. Leo told him he should have shot instead.
That was the number 22's performance out on the Camp Nou pitch. It was a memorable night for the result but made even more special for Arturo, who has been looking to prove his worth and justify Barça's decision to sign him. He'll have another chance to prove that at Anfield in less than a week's time.
