Canadian Premier League Scouting Database – Diego Gutiérrez

After being crowned the best defensive midfielder in the league in our CANPL Scouting Series last year, Diego Gutiérrez has transformed elements of his game to become one of the league’s top box-to-box roamers.

The Chilean midfielder has not only captained Valour through the start of the 2023 season, but has been pivotal to directing play and controlling much of the team’s better moments throughout the season so far. Here is why Diego Gutiérrez is one of the best midfielders in the division.

ATTACKING PRINCIPLES

Diego Gutiérrez excelled on the defensive end last season, through his tough tackling approach in front of his team’s back-four. The Canadian-born midfielder made 4.3 tackles + interceptions per 90, winning 63% of his defensive duels and making nearly 9 recoveries in the opposition’s half as part of Valour’s aggressive press.

He still fulfilled ‘Box-to-Box’ responsibilities, but more so through what we call a ‘Shuttler’ – someone who leans toward the defensive end of those tasks.

This season however, the 26-year-old has become one of the most dynamic ‘Box-to-Box Midfielders’ in the league, arguably even leaning more toward the attacking side of the game this season. Dante Campbell has entered the team as the ‘number 6’ in behind, with Marcello Polisi adding further defensive reinforcements.

This has given Gutiérrez some license to roam forward into the left-half-spaces, where he’s combined well with his attackers in the creation of chances, frequently making underlapping runs on the inside of Kian Williams.

Among central midfielders, only Kyle Bekker has created more chances (2.3) and accumulated a higher xA per 90 (0.19) to start this season than the Valour captain. Given the passing quality of Bekker and his set-piece taking responsibilities, this puts the 26-year-old in great company.

Perhaps most remarkably, Gutiérrez has also expanded upon his passing horizons this season. He’s completed 76% of his long passes, which ranks ahead of every central midfielder in the league to play more than 90 minutes this season (including Bekker!). He ranks similarly high on passes into the final third and progressive passing percentages, demonstrating his upswing in tempo-setting ability.

He’s not just completing nice diagonal switches of play or safe and simple sideways passes, but incredibly clever connections with his teammates ahead.

This is a change from the Gutiérrez of 2022, who relied more on his pace and power to progressively break lines on the dribble (or via carrying), as Daryl Fordyce often set the tempo instead. But as Valour’s possession has increased, Gutiérrez’s own control over matches has only expanded, and suddenly he looks like one of the best passers in the league.

Importantly for the Winnipeg club, the 26-year-old’s license to get forward has also impacted the team positively in front of goal. Gutiérrez went the entire 2022 campaign without scoring in that more defensive role, on just 0.7 shots per game. He’s now doubled that tally to 1.5 shots per game, scoring 2 goals in his first 12 appearances to start the campaign.

Without Sean Rea at the club, Dos Santos has even turned to the Chilean for many of the team’s set-piece duties, where he’s completely justified the selection.

It’s a dangerous prospect if the Canadian midfielder continues to develop his threat level in front of goal, as he already possesses everything else to be that rare all-round talent.

DEFENSIVE PRINCIPLES

Speaking of being an all-rounder, Diego Gutiérrez has continued to excel on the defensive end this season. His sheer number of tackles and interceptions have gone down, but his percentages have stayed consistent.

Perhaps most impressively, he’s won a higher percentage of his tackles (83%), and speaking to that advanced role, a higher percentage of his recoveries have now come in the opposition’s half (50% – 9.1 total).

Valour will typically defend in a 4-1-4-1 shape, where the central midfielders remain key in not only screening passes in behind and limiting options in between their lines, but in stepping up to support the striker at the front end of the press. This is a great role for Gutiérrez, as it now positions him in a place to win the ball back for his team closer to goal.

The increases and advancements that Valour have made on the ball may also come into effect in decreasing some of his defensive numbers, where his possession-adjusted interceptions (6.28) sits only behind Jesse Daley (6.35).

He’ll likely never cut out the overzealous side to his game, which sometimes results in bookings and unnecessary fouls. That is just one of the trade-offs of being that tough-tackling midfielder willing to throw the body into challenges. Part of that means he’s also completely capable of playing that deeper role if ever required, just as he’s able to play on either the right or left of Phillip Dos Santos’ midfield-three.

Just check out his heatmap, where he’s covered just about the entire pitch in that box-to-box role.

All and all, if looking for an all-around central midfielder who accomplishes tasks at all ends of the pitch and every phase of the game, Diego Gutiérrez has to be the first name on the list from Canada’s top flight. He’s already more than good enough to be playing with his brother at MLS level, and it’s only a matter of time before the Chilean makes a move to a higher level if desired.

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