---
title: "Wolves: Conor Coady praises Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker for centre-back displays"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/wolves-conor-coady-praises-romain-saiss-and-leander-dendoncker-for-centre-back-displays/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Liam Togher"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2019-11-06T19:55:35Z"
modified: "2019-11-06T19:55:35Z"
---

# Wolves: Conor Coady praises Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker for centre-back displays

**Wolves captain Conor Coady has complimented midfield team-mates Romain Saiss and Leander Dendoncker for their performances at centre-back in the absence of the injured Willy Boly and Ryan Bennett.**

Coady, a [near-constant presence in the centre of defence](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/conor-coady/leistungsdaten/spieler/128901) for Wolves, commended the way in which the two players adapted to the position.

He told the [Express & Star](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/11/05/wolves-skipper-coady-hails-fantastic-dendoncker-and-saiss/): “We said how much of a big miss big Boly would be – but we have players to come in.

“Leander is a fantastic player, Saiss plays there for his country (Morocco). He knows how to play the role. He is a fantastic footballer and a brilliant lad. You can see Leander slot in there and take it on board.”

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/THE-BREAKDOWN.png)

[Saiss](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/romain-saiss/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/204198) and [Dendoncker](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leander-dendoncker/leistungsdaten/spieler/168157) played in unfamiliar defensive roles in the [1-1 draw at Arsenal](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1375980/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Arsenal-Wolverhampton-Wanderers) on Saturday, with Boly [out of action for an indefinite period after fracturing his fibula](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/willy-boly-injury-update-wolves-17174673) and Bennett [suffering a groin problem](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/11/01/ryan-bennett-to-miss-wolves-game-at-arsenal-with-groin-issue-2/).

Dendoncker brought tremendous composure to the Wolves defence at the Emirates Stadium, completing 31 out of his 34 passes for a 91.2% accuracy rate, while Saiss frequently repelled the Gunners’ attack, making four interceptions as well as winning two aerial duels and one tackle. \[[via WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1375980/Live/England-Premier-League-2019-2020-Arsenal-Wolverhampton-Wanderers)\]

Their performances were commended by Rosie Swarbrick of the [Express & Star](https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2019/11/03/arsenal-1-wolves-1-rosie-swarbricks-player-ratings/), who wrote that Dendoncker “looked more composed and confident” in “a much-improved second-half display” while Saiss “dealt with everything thrown his way”.

Dendoncker’s adjustment to centre-back definitely adds an assured on-the-ball presence to Wolves’ defence – his passing success rate against Arsenal was far higher than the season averages of Boly ([78.3%](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/161/Show/England-Wolverhampton-Wanderers)) and Bennett ([76.3%](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/161/Show/England-Wolverhampton-Wanderers)).

However, neither he nor Saiss came close to matching the [regular centre-backs](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/leistungsdaten/verein/543)‘ figures for successful aerial duels per game ([4.9 Boly, 2.8 Bennett](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/161/Show/England-Wolverhampton-Wanderers)), while Boly’s tackling average of [three per game](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/161/Show/England-Wolverhampton-Wanderers) is far superior to the Belgian’s and Moroccan’s return from last Saturday.

That [two midfielders in Dendoncker and Saiss](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/wolverhampton-wanderers/startseite/verein/543) were chosen to start ahead of [natural centre-back](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jesus-vallejo/leistungsdaten/spieler/251896) Jesus Vallejo does not reflect greatly on the Spaniard, who has only played twice in the Premier League this season and immediately lost his place after both games, as per [TransferMarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jesus-vallejo/leistungsdaten/spieler/251896).

![](https://cdn.footballtransfertavern.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Verdict.png)

Both Dendoncker and Saiss performed reasonably well against Arsenal last weekend, but neither of them seem able to match the imposing ball-winning ability of Boly at centre-back.

Bennett could return against Aston Villa on Sunday, according to [premierinjuries.com](https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php), which would leave just one-centre back vacancy to fill.

Dendoncker may get the nod seeing as he brings an efficiency of passing that is [superior to Boly and Bennett](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/161/Show/England-Wolverhampton-Wanderers), but it’s also a damning indictment of where Vallejo stands that two midfield players are getting into the starting line-up in defence ahead of him.

***Wolves fans, would you trust either Dendoncker or Saiss to continue deputising at centre-back in Boly’s absence? Join in the discussion by commenting below!***