Sebastian Gonzalez – LDU Quito’s creative midfield genius

Sebastian Gonzalez Baquero has dreamed of playing for LDU Quito ever since he was a child as the 18-year-old has become an integral starter since his debut last season. He started playing organized football at academy level when he was only 7-years-old, playing for a football school in Nayon before moving to another academy in Lumbisi before playing at another academy in Carcelen. He would eventually trial for a place in LDU Quito’s academy at Under 12 level, as this was the team that his father supported, as the teenager has been with the club ever since. He was a captain of the team at Under 16 level as he shows great authority and poise as a starter who has already shown the technique and intelligence to play in a variety of roles.

He is lanky and thin but possesses the physique to hold opposition players off the ball with his swivels as well as his turns of pace in tight spaces to drive the ball forward. From his debut, his creative ability stood out as he has a keen eye for a through ball while also being a phenomenal crosser from the wide areas and half-space. His intelligence with blind-sided movement, side-stepping into space to receive possession while also having the first-touch and awareness of his surroundings to connect play in between the lines as these are facets of his game that make him a proficient attacking midfielder but can also allow him to develop as a deeper-lying creative player. He has played on both flanks, as a central attacking midfielder and even a deeper midfield role after the departure of Jordi Alcivar in such a short space of time as he has become one of the first names on the team sheet. Ecuador are putting together a great lineage of creative players with better coaching at youth level and teams furthering their trust in youth.

Away to Manta FC, the young attacking midfielder would earn his first start, receiving possession after a turnover in the defensive phase to allow the ball to roll across his body to take a touch with his right foot before playing a line-breaking pass with his left. The 18-year-old would show the confidence to create an opportunity for himself, moving into the left half-space to work a one-two with his fullback before driving the ball forward to engage a marker before releasing the ball to the left flank with his weaker right foot before he received a cut-back at the top of the box to have a tame shot blocked. His ability to operate in a variety of roles not only lies in his technical brilliance but also in his willingness to engage in defensive work, making a timely sliding tackle to regain possession in midfield. In the higher areas of the pitch, he would lay-off a pass to a teammate, dropping deeper to scan both sides of his body to ascertain that they were two opposition players pushing forward to engage him as the 18-year-old received the ball and rolled the ball towards the flank to turn inside to evade both of his markers before pushing forward to skip past a third player and switch the ball to the right flank with his right foot to create a high-quality crossing situation.

Gonzalez is immensely well-drilled in blind-sided movements, scanning, knowing when to drop into space as he is capable of releasing the ball on his first touch or weaving past a glut of players, furthering his potential as a multi-faceted midfielder. He can utilize these skills to create space and opportunities in the final third as well as being a transitional player in his own half as during games, he occupies a wide variety of areas. Another facet of his game that allows him to be influential in both areas, is his passing range as the 18-year-old would receive the ball after a turnover to turn and lob a pass to the right flank to facilitate an attacking opportunity. He then created a high-quality opportunity when he received possession on the right flank to lob another pass to the right winger before making a run into the half-space to receive possession, having his cross blocked before playing a low cross into the centre for a teammate to have a shot saved.

He created another high quality opportunity but this time in a different fashion, receiving possession in the right half-space to play a sideways pass and receive possession before flicking a pass for a teammate in the next line and moving into space to receive the ball as he then played a fantastic through ball which hit his striker on the blind-side of his centre-back and in-stride with unerring accuracy for the attacker to allow the ball to run across his body and hammer a shot off the crossbar. His ability to be creative in the wide areas and half-space as a crosser as well as a through ball player from a variety of positions will make him a high-volume creative player as his career progresses. He participated in another move to evade pressure, receiving possession by the touchline on the right flank to lay-off to facilitate a switch to the opposite flank.

He proved his crossing ability once again, receiving a throw-in and using his body to shield the ball from a defender on the right flank to cut the ball back and lob a cross into the box with accuracy as it landed in stride for an attacker at the far post. The 18-year-old made more connections in between the lines, receiving possession and laying off for a teammate to continue his run into the opposition half. He showed his intuitive ability to scan situations as well as his patience on the ball as this constantly informs his decision of whether to turn with possession or simply lay the ball off. He received a lay-off in the ten-space to play the ball to the right flank, scanning behind him and towards his left to see ample space over his left shoulder but he did not demand possession instantly, instead waiting as a teammate in the half-space receives possession as the ball was played to the six-space and laid off to Gonzalez. The Ecuadorian peered over his shoulder to take another quick look before spinning past an oncoming defender and into the vacated space he had seen moments earlier to spread possession to the flank. He could have been a bit more demanding with receiving the ball earlier to drive into the open space but the constant gathering of information to eventually make the correct decision within a few touches of the ball was exemplary.

He received possession in between the lines to lob a switch ball to the right flank before moving to the top of the box where a cross was cleared to his feet for him to cut away from a defender and send a shot that the keeper failed to grasp into the net and put his team in the lead on his debut. The 18-year-old was assured another start in the next game after his debut, at home to Guayaquil City. He responded with another goal involvement, regaining possession in the counter-press to curl a lovely cross into the box for Adolfo Munoz to apply the finish at the back-post. Despite, it only being his second game in professional football, he was constantly demanding possession in between the lines, gesticulating to usher teammates into space as there was an element of authority and confidence to his game. He received possession in the box to have a shot saved while he was constantly dropping out of the ten space to receive possession.

He had another situation where he received possession, swivelled past his man to attempt a through ball which was intercepted as the ball rebounded for him to blast a strike wide. As the game progressed, he began to take up deeper positions as he was not as involved as he was at the start of the game. He then received possession in the opposition half to play an intelligent slide-rule pass into Djorkaeff Reasco as the ball was going behind the striker to take a touch and have an opportunity on goal. Away to Aucas, he received possession with his back to goal in a congested area, utilizing his body to hold the ball to skip past a defender and lay-off the ball to a defender who lobbed a pass for an attacker. The 18-year-old would hold his position while defenders were attracted to markers to receive possession and attempt a one-touch pass to the flank which was intercepted as he received possession to swivel with the ball and flick an outside of the boot pass with his left foot to a runner who surged into the box and had his cross blocked.

He received possession in between the lines again to spin with possession and play the ball to a teammate while he was fouled with a late tackle as this move sequence fostered an attacking interchange. Gonzalez was positioned in the 8 space, scanning and finding that he could take two steps forward to receive a direct vertical pass in between the lines to take a touch and play the ball to the nine-space as his scanning, timing of his blind-sided movements and ability to receive possession is exceptional. The 18-year-old would have a pass in between the lines of his own, receiving possession in the eight space to hold the ball and thread a pass in between two opposition players to the ten space.

His blind-sided movement and importance to transition would show again, as he was positioned on the right eight space as once the right-sided centre-back received possession, he was in a pocket of space in between two opposition defenders as the opposition were utilizing a medium block. The opposition striker would drop deeper to cover the passing lane to him as Gonzalez stepped inside him towards the centre before moving outside him before he moved back inside again to receive possession with his right foot and thread a pass to the nine-space with his left. This was akin to an NFL wide-receiver running a route as his constant movement allowed him to provide a direct passing option for his centre-back, disorient the opposition striker and pick apart the opposition low block, creating a transitional situation with movement and two touches. He dropped into the eight space to receive possession again, scanning before he received possession to identify that he had no direct markers, allowing him to turn and play a pass into the six-space to instigate an attacking move.

In a clash at home to Independiente Del Valle, the teenager was not able to get involved in a fast-paced game before he had a moment that proved his technical brilliance, receiving possession in build-up to lay-off before moving into space to receive possession in the left-channel to dribble into the centre and attempt to play a through ball with his right foot. The pitch was very wet which caused the pace of the game to slow down as Gonzalez was deployed predominantly as a 6 or an 8, dropping into space to receive possession as the young midfielder would attempt a lob in behind but a puddle made it difficult for him to get the proper purchase on the ball. The youngster interchanged with Alcivar as he had a switch ball intercepted before playing a pass out of pressure to a teammate. It was not one of his better performances but his passing under pressure was excellent as he moved into the six-space to flick a pass out of pressure to a teammate. When he received possession in the more advanced position, he constantly looked for the early through ball.

Gonzalez has started the new year and new season where he left off last year as at home to Gualaceo, he would receive possession on the right flank to play a flick down the line to a teammate. His blind-sided movement continued to be excellent as he would drop into the 8 space while his team were in the build-up phase and the opposition were in a medium block. He would move towards the flank before cutting back and moving into the centre to evade the opposition striker who was supposed to close down the passing lane to him for Gonzalez to receive possession and lay-off to a teammate for a switch ball. The 18-year-old then moved into the centre where he dropped deep to receive possession, taking a touch and poking a progressive pass to an attacker. His side would then win possession in the press as he would receive possession on the left flank to take a touch and play the ball to a teammate in the half-space who spread the ball to an overlapping wide player to have a cross blocked.

This season, Gonzalez has greater freedom to roam the pitch and operate from a wide variety of areas as he can occupy the eight space, ten space, wide-zones and half-spaces on each flank as the young midfielder will even occupy the nine-space more regularly during games. The 18-year-old received possession on the right flank where he held possession, he took a touch and played a vertical pass to a teammate who played the ball back to the flank for Gonzalez to attempt a through ball that rolled into the arms of the goalkeeper. He would attempt to create another opportunity when he drove the ball forward and cut-back a pass to a teammate at the top of the box who mis controlled. The teenager’s penchant for intelligent blind-sided movement would come to the fore again as he started the sequence in front of his marker, within his line of sight before shifting to his blind-side and side-stepping into space in between the lines as a teammate in the same vertical line as him received the ball before playing it to Gonzalez who laid off the ball with one-touch to facilitate a switch to the weak side. His movement and sense of space allowed him to be in the perfect position to receive the second pass and connect things in between the lines.

Defensively, there was a lobbed pass into the fullback zone for Gonzalez to use his body to regain possession and play the ball to a teammate. He would then move to the right flank to work more passing connections, rolling the ball into the half-space before receiving possession to drive into the centre of the pitch to work a pass to a teammate in the ball-far half-space before moving in between the central lines. The 18-year-old is an effective ball-carrier because he can use his body to shield the ball, release the ball with his right foot or work passing connections as he is not essentially a dribbler, instead thriving in driving the ball into open spaces and holding off markers. He would drive the ball forward on the left flank before releasing a pass into the attacking line for a teammate to switch possession.

When, Gonzalez is prodding the ball forward on his left foot, he can release the ball, quickly, suddenly and naturally which allows him to distribute possession into open spaces once he draws markers towards him. He drove possession forward in the centre to release a pass to the right flank with his left foot as he would move into the half-space to receive a deflected pass and play a one-touch lay-off to a teammate. The 18-year-old received possession on the right flank to drive inside and work a disguised through ball to the right half-space for a teammate to have a crossing opportunity. He received a pass on the same flank to work a pass into the half-space, receiving the ball with two markers baring down on him to lob the ball over the head of both defenders to play a back-pass.

Away to Deportivo Cuenca, he would receive a lobbed pass in the left half-space to control the ball, create a yard of space for himself to roll a pass for a runner to have a cross blocked inside the box. He received the ball in the right half-space to work a one-two with a wide player before playing a well-weighted line-breaking pass which would lead to the creation of a crossing opportunity. The teenager received possession outside the box after a deflected cross to hold possession and work a one-two before driving the ball forward past two opposition defenders to attract three opposition defenders and still manage to thread a pass for a teammate in the ten space.

After a long goal-kick was played to his striker, Gonzalez would scan over both shoulders before his striker even received possession, anticipating a lay-off as Gonzalez received possession allowing the ball to roll across his body with two markers closing him down before he shielded the ball and cut-back the other direction to spread a pass into the wide areas. In a matter of seconds, Gonzalez had assessed that he could manipulate the opposition by moving inside to create space for the pass to the flank. Gonzalez has a more active role in LDU Quito’s style of play this year, taking up deeper positions and distributing possession rather than playing the final ball as he has managed to become one of the more crucial conduits on the team in a short space of time.

Gonzalez received possession in the deeper areas of the left half-space to roll another accurate through ball into the channels as his teammate was tackled before he could play the cross. The youngster used his distribution to create another crossing opportunity, this time from the central spaces, driving forward with the ball to turn and thread a pass into the wide areas for a cross into the box. Despite playing in a much deeper role, the 18-year-old still has an eye for a through ball when he receives possession in the ten space as he threaded a pass for an attacker who did not time his run properly and was caught offside. He is extremely comfortable under pressure as he received possession outside his own box with an opposition player pushing up to mark him to take a touch and play a progressive pass to instigate a counter-attacking move. He then had a shot from range saved before receiving possession in the six-space to thread a perfectly angled pass to the flank.

At home to Universidad Catolica, Gonzalez began the game, operating in between the lines, receiving possession in the right half-space from a deep vertical pass from the left to turn and thread a through ball to the attacking line. He received possession in the same area to cut inside and switch a pass to a teammate whose shot went harmlessly wide of the target. He would then be positioned in the nine-space as after his side regained possession in the counter-press, he received possession to play a nonchalant back-heel to a teammate who played the ball for an attacker in the box who mis controlled. The 18-year-old moved to the left half-space to work a one-two with a teammate to play a progressive pass for a teammate who was impeded by an opposition defender for LDU Quito to win a free-kick. He dropped deep to receive possession on the same flank, working a one-two with a teammate in the wide zone as the teammate made a run inside him for Gonzalez to cut a pass back to him for the teammate to create a shooting opportunity.

Gonzalez created a shooting opportunity of his own, receiving a pass on the right flank to dummy the ball to a teammate before receiving possession to cut onto his left foot and lob a cross onto the head of an attacker in a congested box to head over the bar. The 18-year-old would exhibit his ball-carrying skillset, lofting a pass over an opposition player to drive the ball into the opposition half to play a back-pass to a teammate. He received possession on the left flank with an opposition player on his back to turn and lob a pass into the channels for a teammate. He loves to lob passes across the pitch as he received possession in the central spaces and lobbed a pass to a teammate in between the lines to evade pressure. He then made a brilliantly timed sliding tackle in the defensive phase to end a counter-attack before receiving possession in the deeper areas and angling a fantastic deep pass in between the lines.

In the 1st round of the Copa Sudamericana qualifiers away to Mushuc Runa, Gonzalez would take on an inaccurate cross on the left flank to cut-back a delivery to the top of the box for a teammate to have a shooting opportunity. The youngster would be involved in the creation of another opportunity, this time from the opposite flank, receiving possession near the touchline to poke a pass to a teammate in the half-space before receiving possession again to work a one-touch switch to the opposite flank for a teammate to square a cross across the face of goal. He was involved in the creation of a great chance for his team when he received possession near the right touchline to control the ball with his left and thread a pass into the channels with his right for a cross which led to a shot on goal.

His movement and ability to connect things from the eight space came to the fore again as the ball was being switched from the left flank to the right for Gonzalez to push forward before a back-pass was played as the 18-year-old dropped deep to receive possession in the eight space, engaging a marker and playing a pass with the outside of his right boot. In the counter-press, he would regain possession with a clean tackle as his energy, size and ability to make clean and well-timed tackles on his feet as well as on the ground, make him an astute counter-pressing player in the opposition half.

At 18-years-old, Gonzalez has the technical grace and tactical adaptability to develop into a world-class midfielder as he is comfortable with passing with any part of either foot with the size to hold off markers as well as the vision for penetrative passes. The Ecuadorian midfielder is akin to Santi Cazorla as he can operate as his side’s primary playmaker while being able to play in a wide or deeper role in order to facilitate another playmaker. His creativity was one of his greatest strengths in his debut but as his early career has developed, his press resistance, penetrative passing, ability to operate in a wide number of spaces and positions as well as his penchant for connection play has shown a fully formed football intelligence at an early age. His blind-sided movement and ability to create better passing angles for teammates allows him to constantly receive the ball while being able to progress play with one or two touches as he has already soared to being one of the top ball progressors in Ecuador.

He is in the top 10 in 1v1 dribbling, he sits third in passes to the final third while being in the same position for progressive runs as his expected assist and through ball statistics could be low but it is important to recognize that he plays a larger role in LDU Quito’s game rather than just a creator. At Under 23 level in the Ecuadorian Liga Pro, Gonzalez comes second in the progressive passes metric as well as leading the ball progression metric via runs and coming in the top five via passes as it is impressive that despite his deeper role, he is still in the top 10 of expected assists for this age-group. This shows that despite being deployed in a deeper role where he sees more possession, he can still cross the ball with accuracy while being capable of threading a well-weighted through ball into space.

He will need to grow his defensive game, especially as a counter-pressing player where he has the most potential in regaining possession in advanced positions and using his skill to circulate the ball with pace, penetration and precision. If he plays in a deeper role, this aspect of his game will become more crucial as he will also need to win possession defensively while being able to play the first penetrative pass. He leads U23s for shots while being in the top 10 in expected goals for the age-group as this is another facet of his game that could develop, especially as an attacking midfielder or deeper-lying midfielder with late runs into the box. However, it is intriguing that when he is driving the ball with his left foot, he can launch accurate shots at goal with little back-lift or transition movement as this part of his game could be crucial at a higher level. He could improve his shooting with his weaker right foot as he uses his right foot to control the ball and is comfortable passing with any part of his right foot as if he is able to shoot effectively with his weaker foot then he will become a world-class midfielder.

Gonzalez is in his first full season with the LDU Quito first-team and has already shown potential in becoming one of the leading players in Ecuador while being able to play multiple roles and positions will be intriguing for clubs in the future. Belgium is certainly a good stepping stone for the youngster to hone his talents, especially at Club Brugge or Anderlecht while he could be solid fit for Sporting Braga and Sporting Lisbon’s systems in Portugal. With more appearances for LDU Quito and in continental competition, he could earn a place in Gustavo Alfaro’s Ecuadorian National Team as he could operate as one of the wide interiors in what is already the youngest National Team in South America. It should be a treat to be a fan of Ecuadorian football with the plethora of high-level creative players coming through the academy.