In 2017, Monaco had an incredible run in the Champions League, reaching the semi-finals where they were beaten by Juventus.
Two years later, almost all of their star players had left the south of France to pursue their careers elsewhere. Monaco once again had to build their team with some exciting talent.
At the same time, a young midfielder, Enzo Millot rose through the ranks and was quickly promoted to Monaco’s B team. A year later, he made his debut, in a 1-0 league defeat against Brest.
On the German side, VfB Stuttgart quickly became aware of the midfielder. Stuttgart became a team interested in buying young players to help them progress in the league, and Millot was seen as a talent to help them achieve that goal.
During the 2021 summer transfer window, Millot signed a four-year contract with Die Roten, worth €2 million. Since his signing, he has worked hard to become a regular starter and has become a vital part of the Stuttgart team this season, rewarded with a new 4-year contract in January.
He has been linked with a move this summer to Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, but if Stuttgart manages to qualify for the Champions League, the French may well be interested in remaining at the club.
Whether he plays in 6, 8 or 10, Millot constantly stands out on the pitch and he has the qualities to be great in each of these positions. So, what’s so special about Enzo Millot?
Passing ability
Millot’s best ability is comfortably his passing. Whether he plays quick one-twos in the middle of the field to find space between the opposing lines, slows down the game to set up Stuttgart in the middle of the field, or plays the decisive pass to unlock a defense , Millot has it all.
He is constantly looking for the pass and, more often than not, finds his teammate’s feet. He’s in the 92nd percentile in completions and he plays an extremely high number of them.
When he gets the ball and looks for the pass, his main goal is to separate the opponent. Often he changes the play to the other side of the field, to start new offensive plays, or simply across the field into the feet of other midfielders like Atakan Karazor.
Stuttgart coach Sebastian Hoeneß’s system dictates Millot’s passing efficiency. The 3-4-3 doesn’t give Millot too much freedom in attack, as it comes more to the attacking backs. Therefore, the 21-year-old focuses his play on the flanks to build those quick attacks.
Dribbling in offensive phases
The Frenchman not only plays in the midfield pivot, but sometimes plays in the attacking trio, usually on the right side.
When he takes this position, not only is passing a real quality, but his dribbling in wide positions is truly a quality to have. When he holds these positions, he always seeks to be at the forefront. Advance the ball in dangerous terror with direct dribbles.
He looks for 1v1 opportunities in areas outside the box, and if he can break free, looks to provide the club’s top scorer, Serhou Guirassy, with goal spaces.
However, when his fancy footwork isn’t enough, he continues to push himself to win fouls and set pieces in tricky positions.
Defensive actions
The final piece of the puzzle with Millot is his off-the-ball support and how he impacts Stuttgart when they need to defend, with his ‘defend from the front’ mindset.
When playing higher up the pitch, he always tries to win the ball from the opponent’s feet to launch quick counter-attacks, which work very well when he joins his teammates in the final third.
Ultimately, he is the piece of the team that connects the midfield and the attack as he wins the ball, connects space and plays passes to his teammates that normally lead to goals.
Millot has shown people that he has the qualities necessary to become a serious talent in the future, and he has already shown how good he can be this season, which is a big part of why Stuttgart is in contention for the Champions League next season. .
