Assane Dioussé

Key strength: Ball retention

Deep-lying playmaker

In the heat of a relegation battle, AJ Auxerre sit precariously in 16th place, their survival hopes hanging by a thread. While headlines go to Lassine Sinayoko and Danny Namaso, one unsung squad player has quietly delivered when called upon: Assane Dioussé. The 28-year-old Senegalese defensive midfielder has made 14 appearances this season—mostly late cameos totaling just 287 minutes—yet has found the net once, proving his worth as a depth option. Valued at €700,000, Dioussé operates as a deep-lying playmaker whose ball retention skills (55 passing, 50 physical) give Auxerre's beleaguered defense a brief respite in the dying moments of matches. With the club's form showing question marks and the drop zone looming, manager Christophe Pélissier may need to lean more heavily on squad players like Dioussé as the relegation scrap intensifies. His solitary goal might yet prove vital in a season where every point counts.