PEPÊ — Player Analysis
Pepê is the most recent Grêmio academy graduate to earn a move to Europe, as he is already sold to FC Porto and is set to move by the end of June. Now 24 years old, he excelled in the 2020 season playing as a left winger for the Copa do Brasil finalists. In fact, Pepê was the player designated to take Everton Cebolinha’s place after he left for Benfica last season, and didn’t shy away from the task. Now the ex-teammates are set to face each other on opposite sides of the Portuguese rivalry. So who did the Dragons recrute?
After his great 2020 season, Pepê has only played 3 matches in the 2021 season, after being sidetracked by an injury by the end of last season. Still, the 2020 season ended only in March, in classic Brazilian fashion, so his absence was not that long. He has yet to play under new head coach Thiago Nunes, but under ex-boss Renato Portaluppi, he mostly featured as a left winger in a 4–2–3–1 system. Onto his behaviour on the pitch.
Starting from the left, Pepê likes to drop into midfield in order to receive the ball then exchange some quick short passes or quickly turn around, beating his marker and bursting forward at speed or drifting inside. Thus, he is quite valuable to Grêmio’s ball progression, moving to create passing options for his deeper teammates, cooperating to link up play or breaking into progressive runs, carrying the ball forward. In 2020 he averaged 2.47 progressive runs and was fundamental in helping Grêmio reach the attacking third.
In the attacking third itself, Pepê has been fairly prolific, scoring 15 goals and providing 8 assists in the 2020 season, figures that made him Grêmio’s top provider and 2nd top scorer, behind Diego Souza. With averages of 0.2 xG and 0.17 xA per 90, his contribution was significant.
Amid an unstable season for the club, he was one of the difference makers, on whom Renato could count on to deliver. In fact, he was involved in the moves of 63% of the open play goals scored by Grêmio in the 2020 Brasileirão while he was on the pitch.
Here’s how he ranked for non-penalty goals plus assists per 90 among U23 players in the Brasileirão and in the Copa Libertadores respectively:
Still, it is fair to say that his shooting needs improving. He often tries long shots, from unlikely positions and he has not been really successful at them, as underlined below by his Brasileirão shot map from Smartercout. The exception here proved to be his most important goal for Grêmio, the winner in the historical Copa Libertadores Grenal derby. He’s better when closer to the goal, even if not quite clinical. Besides, his left foot could definitely see some improvements too, as he cannot rely on it and rarely even uses it.
What helps him the most as an attacking threat are his smart movements and positioning to receive the ball in the box, in the space behind the defensive line or even between the lines. Constantly looking for dismarking actions, he offers various possibilities in the final third. But more on that later.
Pepê is a player capable of thriving both in tight and open spaces. Comfortable under pressure, his technique and neat ball control allow him to effectively evade markers. Boosted by his distinct agility he is also capable of quick turns to break into space. He was the second U23 player with most dribbles per 90 in the last Copa Libertadores, and averaged 5.75 dribbles per 90 in 2020 with 51.54%. And this is one of his finest weapons, capable of beating defenders at 1v1 situations with flair and creating scoring opportunities. In fact, 44% of Grêmio’s xG he was involved with, come from individual actions such as these. Moreover, as most players with these traits, he tends to draw fouls and averaged 2.31 fouls suffered per 90 in 2020.
But even more critical is his pace, as counting on his superb speed and acceleration, Pepê excels in breaking into space with the ball at his feet. Defenders struggle to keep up and his runs behind the defensive line often wreak havoc. Boosted by his quick reactions, promptly readying himself for transitions, this is especially dangerous in counterattacks.
Pepê is not a very frequent crosser of the ball, with 1.53 crosses per 90 last season, but it’s another interesting weapon in his arsenal. With 34.62% accuracy, he is fairly good at them and has provided quite a few shot assists this way, especially connecting with powerful target-man Diego Souza.
A nice array of qualities that combined make him a great attacking threat down the flank, capable of creating dangerous opportunities.
I’ve mentioned his movements a few times now, and I am going to go a bit deeper in this. With that in mind, I want to bring up the brilliant Where Goals Come From project from Carl Carpenter and Jamon Moore at American Soccer Analysis (I encourage you to read the whole thing, as it’s truly informative and interesting). Observing different leagues across the globe, they found out that about 40% of goals tend to come from progressive passes. Their definition for progressive pass being: “a completed open-play pass that moves at least 25% closer to the goal from its origin.” They’ve also found out a strong correlation between progressive passes goals per game and points per game. Thus, movements, collective or individual, to enable these passes are paramount. And while Grêmio’s collective structure in 2020 was not quite effective, Pepê’s individual dismarking movements were instrumental.
The guys at ASA divide these movements in three categories for off-the-ball (blind-side runs, double movements, third-man runs) and on-the-ball movements (dribbling into space, variability in passing angles and use of deception, pass selection). On-the-ball Pepê stands out from dribbling into space. Off-the-ball, it’s remarkable how often he makes all these types of movements. Watching the compilations above you’ll see many of them, most of which result in shots for Grêmio. Not only that, but the amount of shot-creating actions that come after progressive passes to Pepê is quite high. Luckily for him and for Grêmio, he enjoys the company of players like Jean Pyerre, Maicon and Matheus Henrique, who thrive on the other two types of on-the-ball movements, and often spot him ahead.
So, boosted by his smart movements, Pepê has been integral to Grêmio, and his contribution should not be understated. I shall bring up again a figure that underlines his influence to Grêmio’s attacking threat: while he was on the pitch, he was involved in 63% of the goals scored by Grêmio in the 2020 Brasileirão. Fundamental.
Another interesting aspect of his is his impressive stamina. He played 57 matches last season (and incredible 4590 minutes) and while Renato used to frequently rest his starters for important games, Pepê requested no to be rested at all, playing two times a week during the whole season, bar a short period away in September. Moreover, he mostly seemed fit and willing to run during the whole 90min.
He does not shy away from defensive duties, always willing to track back and follow his man in Renato’s man-marking system. Once again thriving on top of his quick reactions to transitions, he was also important in helping against opposition counterattacks. Last season he averaged 3.75 defensive duels per 90 winning 54.45% of them and 3.46 possession-adjusted interceptions. Also regarding his stamina, I must highlight the start of the video below (which shows a bit of his defensive involvement) displaying Pepê sprinting back to recover the ball after 94 minutes played in a cup final. Crucial.
Now 24 years old and returning from injury, Pepê has less than two months left at Grêmio and FC Porto will be keen to use his talents as they take on the 21/22 season. Meanwhile in Brazil he will certainly be missed, as his contribution was exceptional. But the 3rd highest fee ever received by a Grêmio player should be helpful in other ways, while the excellent Eldorado do Sul academy seems to never stop producing talent and it should not be long until another young winger follows his footsteps. The future looks bright for all the involved.
Lucas Barth
