Sander Berge

DOB: 14/2/1998 (21)

Nationality: Norway

Club: KRC Genk

Position: Defensive Midfielder

Tactical:

Working under three managers in two seasons hasn’t been a detriment for Berge, with him being a staple in the side through Philippe Clement, Felice Mazzu, and now Hannes Wolf. Berge operates as the lynchpin in Genk’s midfield, with most of the build-up play starting through him. Currently, in Genk’s 4-3-3 formation under Wolf, Berge operates as the central midfielder, with him dropping deep to receive the ball from the goalkeeper before beginning the build-up. Berge will also at times drop in between the center backs when the full backs bomb forward, creating a back three and therefore being protected defensively. When attacking, Berge will sometimes move up the field into a more advanced position, with him either ending up as a #10 at times, or even as a left or right sided winger. Other times, he will sit near the edge of the box and wait to receive the ball at his feet to either pass it on, or attempt a shot from outside the box. On set-pieces, he is always in the box and usually lines up at the front post to try and utilize his height advantage to either flick it on or head it towards goal.

Technical:

When it comes to his technical qualities, Berge is very comfortable on the ball. He always seems to play 5-10 years his senior and is normally very composed. He normally will receive the ball at his feet and then look up and pass first time, however, he will occasionally drive forward into the space in midfield. He is not the quickest and most agile player, but this does not negatively affect his game. He also can dribble past opponents at times, but that is really not his play style to take opponents on. Berge is also good at reading the passing lanes, with him being very skilled at intercepting passes in the center of the park. Technically, he plays very similar to Rodri at Manchester City, with the Spaniard being the lynchpin in the midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side and the player who likes to start the build-up from the back.

Physical:

Sander Berge stands at 6’5″ and has a very built body, but plays like midfielder who is much shorter. For his height, Berge has a very low center of gravity and is hard to muscle off of the ball. He is very good in the air, winning a majority of his aerial duels, and is the player Coucke targets off of his goal kicks when he kicks it long. He is also good in the tackle, but can sometimes get too aggressive into challenges or unnecessarily dive into challenges that he does not have to. Physically, Berge compares very well to Steven N’zonzi, with both being around the same height and also having the same approach physically. N’zonzi is a player very much like Berge who is strong in the air and is also very strong in the tackle.

Summary:

Sander Berge is a player who has a very bright future as a defensive midfielder that can slot into some of Europe’s best sides. Currently, however, he is excelling in Belgium, and is one of the best midfielders in the league right now. Berge brings to the table a skillset that not many players his age can; the ability to combine composure on the ball, leadership on the pitch, and strength and aggression defensively. There are still a few sides to his game that he could work on, most notably diving into tackles that are not there to be won, but Berge is currently one of the best young midfielders in the world, and should eventually get his move to a bigger club in the near future. (He is currently heavily linked with Sheffield United as I write this report.)