Bielsa woes all of his own making
A STORY emerged over the weekend of police in Oslo responding to a ‘report of loud screams from an apartment’, only to discover it had been a Leeds fan celebrating his side’s late goal. ‘The patrol came in contact with a cheerful football supporter,’ explained the Norwegian force in a tweet. ‘He acknowledged a loud noise in connection with a penalty.’ From flats in Oslo to the stands of Elland Road, Rodrigo’s 94th-minute equaliser against Wolves sparked pandemonium among Leeds fans on Saturday. And yet, in the sober light of Sunday morning, those fans will have looked at a table showing their side fourth-bottom with one win from nine games. Leeds’ late rally, inspired by talented teenager Joe Geldhart, cannot hide the fact they seem to be suffering from second season syndrome. The failings of Marcelo Bielsa’s side are there for all to see — not least their apparent inability to cope without Kalvin Phillips. The England midfielder was left on the bench as Bielsa opted for caution on his return from calf and hip problems. But Leeds have won just two of the 12 Premier League games he has missed, compared to 49 per cent when he plays. Another problem has been the absence of last season’s top scorer
Patrick Bamford, not just because of his goals but his work-rate. In his place against Wolves, Bielsa tried out Dan James as a central striker. But the ex-Manchester United man, who has struggled to justify his £25million price tag, looked lost before he was moved back out wide. Rodrigo’s penalty, meanwhile, was his first goal of the season. And what Bielsa would give for a forward partnership like Wolves have in Raul Jimenez and Hwang Hee-chan, who linked up for the South Korean’s 10th-minute opener. Bielsa’s woes could be compounded if the leg injury which forced star winger Raphinha off is worse than the Brazilian made out on social media, saying it was nothing serious. But some of these problems are of the Leeds manager’s own making. The more his treatment table fills up, the more his insistence on operating with a small squad is exposed, with James and Junior Firpo the only real additions to his first XI in the summer. Bielsa is having to fill his bench with kids — although that has at least afforded a chance to Gelhardt. The 19-year-old changed the game on Saturday, his jinking run winning Leeds’ penalty and earning him comparisons with
Lionel Messi by Sportsmail’s Martin Keown. After a gloomy start to the campaign, the England Under 21 forward could well be the spark that lights up Leeds’ season. LEEDS UNITED (4-4-2): Meslier 6.5; Shackleton 6, Llorente 6.5, Cooper 6, Dallas 5.5; Raphinha 7 (Summerville 54min, 6), Klich 6 (GELHARDT 63, 8), Struijk 5.5, Harrison 5 (Roberts 46, 5.5); Rodrigo 7.5, James 5. Scorer: Rodrigo 90+4 (pen). Booked: Shackleton, Rodrigo. Manager: Marcelo Bielsa 6.5. WOLVES (5-4-1): Sa 7; Semedo 6, Kilman 6.5, Coady 7, Saiss 6.5, Ait-Nouri 7 (Hoever 83); Traore 5.5 (Podence 76, 6), Dendoncker 6.5, Moutinho 6 (Neves 90), Hwang 7.5; Jimenez 7. Scorer: Hwang 10. Booked: Kilman, Saiss, Moutinho. Manager: Bruno Lage 6. Referee: Robert Jones 7. Attendance: 36,475.