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The 2021-22 season of club football has been full of surprises right from the summer transfer window. There have been some unexpected results and events and it only gets more interesting for the remainder of the season.
With plenty at stake, the level of both individual and team performances has been quite high. While many have exceeded expectations, others have had their fair share of struggles.
Top players turn around their form in club football
Some of the top players currently in club football haven't had the best of times on the pitch this season. These footballers have had a reputation for being very good at what they do yet have somehow struggled to impress.
Lionel Messi is one such example that springs to mind. His performance for Paris Saint-Germain, since his move to that club, hasn't been up to his usual high standards.
That being said, many of them have been able to retrieve that impressive touch since January this year. They now look closer to their best than they did earlier. On that note, let's take a look at the top players who have done very well since the month of January.
#5 Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
Many expected Jadon Sancho to be an instant hit when he signed for Manchester United in last summer's transfer window. Given his prolific time at Borussia Dortmund, the Englishman has a reputation for being very effective in attack.
Since his arrival, Sancho has struggled to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League and the tactical style of Manchester United. Before January 2022, the right-footed winger only had two goals to his name across all club football competitions, from eight games.
With the arrival of Ralf Rangnick as United's interim manager, Jadon Sancho has definitely benefited and improved his game. Since January, the 21-year-old has scored thrice and registered three assists. His form remains crucial to Manchester United's ambition to qualify for the Champions League next season.
#4 Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona)
The French forward was very likely to move away from Barcelona in the winter transfer window, given his fallout with the club management. As no move materialized, Ousmane Dembele stayed with the Catalan club.
Dembele, with his amazing footwork, superb dribbling and fine creativity, can be devastating for the opposition. His inconsistency and indiscipline did not help his cause but under Xavi's management, things changed for the 24-year-old.
Since January, Ousmane Dembele has gone on to assist five times and score once in three starts. His current form is one of the reasons why Barcelona have shown drastic improvement in La Liga.
#3 Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa)
It is no secret that Philippe Coutinho has found life difficult at Barcelona. Since arriving at the Catalan club in the 2017-18 season, the Brazilian has never looked settled or comfortable with the Spanish giants.
Seeking a change in form, Coutinho joined Aston Villa on loan in the winter transfer window. Prior to that, he only managed to score twice for Barcelona in 16 appearances this season.
Since joining Aston Villa, the Brazilian playmaker has had a great change in form. Coutinho has gone on to score four times and registered three assists in just nine appearances. It looks like a permanent move to Villa might be on the cards for the former Premier League midfielder.
#2 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Barcelona)
The relationship between Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had hit the rocks this season. This prompted the Gabonese forward to move away and join Barcelona in the January transfer window.
For a goal-scoring machine like Aubameyang, seven goals and two assists in 15 appearances this season was clearly an unsatisfactory performance. Signing for Barcelona did help the former Borussia Dortmund attacker's confidence and how!
In just six starts, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored six times for the Spanish giants. His form remains key to Barcelona's revival in La Liga this season.
#1 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
The Englishman was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City in last summer's transfer window. Despite City's best efforts, they were unable to convince Tottenham Hotspur and their chairman Daniel Levy to sell Harry Kane.
Since then, the Spurs striker had struggled to score effectively in the Premier League this season, having scored only four times until December last year. Although he did decently well in other cup games, his form in England's top-tier competition was poor.
It all changed in January this year with Harry Kane slowly returning to his best. The English captain has since scored eight goals and made one assist in the Premier League, including an impressive brace against defending champions Manchester City. It will be interesting to see where Harry Kane ends up in the goal-scoring charts of club football by the end of the 2021-22 season.
