Scout Report: Bernard (Atletico Mineiro)

Bernard

Skills and game-play

He is comfortable playing anywhere across the attacking midfield, but has been pre-dominantly deployed on the left wing at Atletico. He can also play as a supporting striker to a central target man.

Whatever Bernard misses out on due to his short stature with regards to his strength, he more than makes up for it with the abundance of energy he has. Although his ‘on the ball’ skills are his main weapon, his electric pace is what gives him an advantage over the opponents.

Acceleration/deceleration with lightning fast change of direction/running fast on distances/balance – name any pacy attribute and Bernard has it at his disposal. On top of that, he also has a long lasting ‘engine’ with respect to stamina. His pace does not suffer even at the later stages of the game.

He has a brilliant first touch which renders him comfortable while playing facing an opponent or with his back towards the goal. Having the ball under his control and away from the defender after the first touch means he is able to be one step ahead and always in control and thus, the opponents’ moves against him mostly turn out to be reactions to his actions. He is also blessed with a good vision and reading of the game and his team-mates’ movements.

Speaking of team-mates, what differentiates Bernard from the usual tricksters and dribblers is what Bernard does after a dribble. Almost every time after dribbling past an opponent or after pulling off a nice trick to throw an immediate opponent off balance, Bernard invariably either passes the ball or crosses the ball bringing his team-mates into play. He knows when to dribble, when to beat and run and when to pass to keep the game flowing.

On the defensive side, his tackling is not the best. That being said his player-marking abilities are not bad. With the never-ending energy he has, he doesn’t shy away from tracking back opponents. Although he can jump well, given his stature, he is bound to lose out on aerial duels.

His prime weakness is the lack of strength. In the Brasileirao, he has adjusted well by using his pace to counter this weakness but it remains to be seen if he can succeed against physical teams like Stoke City or in a defensively strong league like the Italian Seria A.

Football being a contact sport and Bernard being the natural target, he is bound to be bullied by the stronger athletes and will attract tackles, but it’s a good thing he doesn’t simulate a dive with the slightest touch.

A look at some of the goals he has scored clearly highlights how good he is with his first touch. Another aspect quite evident from his goals and even assists is his control over the ball while volleying the ball.

How he has scored his goals:

Competition	Right Leg	Left leg	Header	Free-kick	total
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A	5	2	3	1	11

When he has scored his goals:

Competition	1 – 15	16 – 30	31 – 45	45+	46 – 60	61 – 75	> 75	90+	total
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A	3	2	-	-	-	4	1	1	11

Influence & Impact:

His ability to bring in his team-mates into play by freeing up space or by passing on the right time has enabled other players around him to perform at a level better.

Certainly, having Ronaldinho around has helped Bernard as well. Perhaps the player who has benefited the most has been former Manchester City striker Jo. He has not only enjoyed the direct service from Bernard’s crosses but, in general, having Bernard behind him, who can take away defenders and pass and also open-up opportunities, has helped Jo’s game.

Physical attributes aside, Bernard looks the kind of player who not only possesses bags of promise but with his good decision-making and passion for the game can surely become a football great one day.

The phenomenal rise of Atletico Mineiro coinciding with the emergence of Bernard is a testament not only of his footballing prowess but also the influence he has on the other players. His commitment towards his club’s Copa Libertadores triumph at a time when big European clubs are interested in him further shows the focus of the youngster.

On the basis of his performances over the past year-and-a-half – only time separates Bernard from greatness!