What he does best he also continued to do with outstanding efficiency, ranking in the top ten Premier League players for interceptions made (49), passes blocked (39), tackles attempted (114) and tackles won (73). And if his 11 yellow cards – only three players accumulated more – suggested a disciplinary issue that could be improved upon this season, he was again among the league’s top ten players for fouls drawn (58): a sense of things cancelling themselves out.
