BIELSA: YES, KALVIN’S LIKE PIRLO, BUT SIMEONE TOO

LEEDS boss Marcelo Bielsa can see why Kalvin Phillips is being compared to Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo.

But he also reckons there is a touch of Argentine hardman Diego Simeone about the England star.

Phillips (left) has continued to grow in stature at the heart of Bielsa’s team after being handed his England debut just over a year ago.

And the Leeds-born midfielder revels in being called ‘the Yorkshire Pirlo’ by the Elland Road fans.

But while Bielsa agrees that Phillips has the same qualities as the silky smooth Azzurri great, he also feels there is a bit of the abrasive Simeone in his locker as well.

Bielsea said: “Phillips and

Pirlo have certain things in common – the area of the pitch where they play and how they understand and make the play.

“They are players who understand how to organise the possession of the ball.

“But he also has things in common with Simeone. They are both combative in terms of style and are comfortable when disputing possession

and the friction of the game. Like Simeone, he is also an astute passer of the ball.

“I see Phillips as having a variety of elements to his game. He’s a very good passer of the ball, either long or short.

“He is always aware of what is going on around him. He’s aware of where all his team-mates are when he regains possession and he knows where the opposition players are when he has to win the ball back.

“He knows how to sniff out and evaluate any danger. He is a good decision-maker.

“He recognises and gets involved in the most dangerous situations that he has to deal with.

“In simple terms, someone plays well if they give the ball to a team-mate and they play badly if they don’t give it to a team-mate.

“They play well if they rob the ball off an opponent and badly if they don’t.

“But there are many other nuances that allow someone to perform well – and this is what I try to describe with Phillips.”

And Bielsa feels that Phillips is continuing to develop technically, tactically and mentally. The midfielder has become a Leeds talisman after coming up through the ranks of the club he supported as a kid.

Bielsa added: “These are the type of players who have emotional ties with their supporters, as well as with the club and the city itself.”

And international football with England has also allowed his game to develop.