:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61551423/1035822948.jpg.0.jpg)
Last Tuesday night’s performance was wonderful. It showed so much in our new Leeds United team. Our strengthening at set pieces-attacking and defending. Tyler Roberts showed that he can provide the goals in the absence of Roofe and Bamford. Jansson was at his best, he didn’t put a foot wrong. We were so creative and fluid, it was a wonderful sight to see as Leeds ran out to a 3-0 victory over Preston.
Bielsa talked at length about combating the tactics Birmingham used (deep and men behind the ball). Without criticising them, he said he tries to play in the "sprirt of the game" and is always looking for the "beauty" of it. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) September 26, 2018
However, fast-forward to Saturday and the run was over. Multiple factors contributed to the result against Birmingham City; selection, set-up and individual battles. But now Leeds have a great opportunity, to go and bounce back away from home at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday and show why the Whites are real contenders. This is not something we have seen for a long time. This Leeds team have the chance to show what they are made of, and this excites me. It’s a great opportunity to see how the squad could change in the next couple of months. We’ve seen four injuries to four crucial players in this Leeds team, and now they have seen what they are up against. Marcelo Bielsa has seen how other players cope with this league when getting their chance.
Jack Harrison is a perfect example. Since Pablo Hernandez was ruled out, Harrison has shown the Leeds United faithful exactly what he was brought in to do. To get into the faces of the opposition, go out and create and run the defence riot. That is exactly what he has done.
We have learned a lot about what Kalvin Phillips is made of since the turn of the season. He’s shown that he can handle the pressure, on and off the pitch. He has stepped up above his critics and shown exactly what he is about. Side before self, learning a new role in this Leeds team and producing. On his 100th appearance he was subbed off in the first half, the following game he put in his best performance by a country mile, he’s got the mental strength and has seriously matured (despite the new haircut).
Bielsa’s men have a lot of metal and now it’s going to be put to the rest on Friday night, Come on Leeds!