Kirian Rodríguez, the unexpected bastion of Las Palmas

For lineage and talent, It was already known that Jonathan Viera and Jesé Rodríguez were called to be two footballers more than capitals in the gear Las Palmas Sports Union, especially the first one. The forecasts said it and both footballers took it upon themselves to justify it, team leaders in goals, 8 and 9 respectively, and assists, 5 and 6. Alongside the first and behind the second, little by little the imposing figure of Kirian Rodríguez emerged, class midfielder that Gran Canaria likes so much, pure island tradition. Now essential with García Pimienta just as it was before with Pepe Mel, his statistics curtail any debate about taking away his status as the undisputed starter at UD.

The Tenerife midfielder, Just turned 26 (March 5), he has one more season on his contract with Las Palmas and is, in full personal and sporting maturity, in the best moment of his career. This is demonstrated by the much-demanded Big Data, always irrefutable. And it is that, beyond the three assists he has (third of his team) and the three goals scored (only Viera, Jesé and Pejiño have scored more), his influence in the game of the Sports Union is total.

According the record kept by WyScout Data, which has recorded data of Second Division midfielders with more than 1,000 minutes played this season, Kirian raises his voice to claim his place among the most influential. To date, the 20th of Las Palmas he averages 57 good passes per game, more than 13 with respect to the average of the footballers who occupy the same line, such as the aspects described below, also receiving another 43, 15 more than average. It also happens that has Jonathan Viera as a partner, the most decisive footballer in the category, and another comparative statistic also shows that Kirian is the player with whom 21 is most associated. In a team with such associative capacity, gamers meet even more.

Photo by Kirian Rodriguez

Rodríguez’s effectiveness with the ball at his feet, as much class as emanates from his right boot, is even more accentuated when it comes to risking with those progressive passes always so demanded in footballers of his size and condition. Thus, the chicharrero has 86% accuracy in said statistical section, 10.7% higher to his teammates on the line of play.

Likewise, the more the ball burns, in the last third of the pitch, he has the capacity to score 9.51, between 3 and 4 points above the average. To that it is capable of adding, with advanced addressee and in perfect conditions, 2.07 deep passes, 1.11% above the stipulated average amount.

Resource.

Until now, Kirian has started in 19 of the 24 games in which he has participated, accumulating, after the game against Leganés, 1,697 minutes on the pitch. Nor is it negligible the number of goals he has added, three, but in 2022 he has been uncovered as a great scoring resource.

Shield/Flag Las Palmas

“We have a player like Kirian, For example, you have a amazing hit. I told him that he has to demand much more because he has one capacity to reach the area and kick for score many more goals. And I think apart from playing wellwho plays very well, he has to help us with goals as well“, said his coach, Francisco Javier García Pimienta, last Monday.

It happens that Rodríguez was uncovered against Leganés with a great goal from outside the area, a stupendous kick that made Las Palmas’ comeback effective, 2-1 action against Leganés. He was even more decisive at the beginning of the year at the Heliodoro Rodríguez López, when he also made a great goal, this the only one in the Canarian derby: 0-1. If on this occasion he received a pass from Jesé, four days ago it came from Jonathan Viera. Again, partnership between gamers. If he already gave three points to Las Palmas in Tenerife, one gave him in Oviedo with a goal that meant the final 1-1. In the end, Kirian always ends up emerging.