Marcelo Bielsa became a history maker this weekend as his Leeds side survived a tricky first half to see off Rotherham United 2-0 at Elland Road.
The result made the Chilean the first Leeds manager to open his tenure at the club with three straight wins. When a manager joins a new club looking to implement a completely new philosophy or style, they usually need to sign a host of players capable of performing under the new system. Yet this has not been the case for Bielsa at Elland Road.
Using almost the same group of players that performed so poorly in the second half of last season, Bielsa has transformed the Whites into a slick possession-craving unit that blitzed both Stoke City and Derby County before getting the better of Rotherham this weekend.
The coach himself has been quick to point out that it is early days. “In football six weeks is a long time. The challenges are above transmitting the style. The challenge is to try and be faithful to this style for a long period,” Bielsa told YEP reporters.
Yet several players have looked completely rejuvenated under their new manager after buying into his philosophy and reinventing themselves, while others have been able to adapt their strengths to Bielsa’s system more seamlessly and stand out all the more for it.
With all of this in mind, we have taken a look at five in particular that seem to grabbing their second chance with both hands.
1. Kemar Roofe
No player has looked more improved under Bielsa than Kemar Roofe.
The former West Brom youth player was plucked out of obscurity by Oxford United and manager Michael Appleton. After a brilliant 2015/16 campaign with the Yellows in which he scored 26 goals in 48 games in all competitions, Leeds signed him up for a fee reportedly rising to £3m. The expected progress many Oxford fans were anticipating never materialised, however.
The main reason for this was because he was being completely misused by the Leeds coaching team. Often placed out wide, he cut an isolated figure that would often frustrate or go missing in games.
Bielsa has quickly transformed him back into the striker he was at Oxford and that decision is already yielding results. Three goals and an assist in the first three Championship games is evidence enough, but his high energy pressing and overall work rate has made life very difficult for the defenders he has faced thus far.
This could be his big break-out season at this level, which would not come as a surprise to those who always knew he was best used as a central striker.
2. Mateusz Klich
Klich has been a revelation since returning to the club following a loan spell with Dutch side Utrecht.
The Polish midfielder plays an important role in closing down and pressing the opposition and the 28-year-old is one of the stand-out performers under the new manager.
His natural athleticism has helped him maintain an integral role in both the primary and secondary press required in a Bielsa system and it will be hard for Adam Forshaw to force his way back into the side when he returns from injury.
The resurgence of Klich is another example of the meticulous preparation Bielsa undertook in pre-season where intensive sessions from 9am until 7pm saw his players undertake fitness programs, video sessions and tactical classes all to help them have the best chance of hitting the ground running when the season kicked off.
3. Samuel Saiz
Saiz is not usually known for his defensive diligence, but against Derby he tracked back more than 30 yards to make an important interception in front of the back four that brought a standing ovation from the away following.
The player, always talented, has hit a new level since Bielsa arrived. His ability has made him integral to the quick transition required under the new system and he has taken to it like a duck to water.
The degree of movement from his teammates off the ball allows him to turn and run at defenders while also exploiting pockets of space when out of possession himself. All of this and his new defensive work rate have seen him go from a potential star to arguably the key figure in this Leeds outfit.
4. Luke Ayling
Ayling was a very good player during his time with Bristol City, yet under Bielsa he has found another level.
Covering a huge amount of ground in every game, the right-back has been superb. His defensive ability has been needed as, in the new system, the full-backs are expected to rush forward, leaving plenty of space in behind for the opposition to exploit. But due to his high work rate Ayling has successfully prevented this from being an issue.
Ayling had more touches than any other Leeds player in the opening two games, showing just how integral he will be for the new manager and his system.
The full-backs are asked to work the hardest under a Bielsa pressing style and Ayling will need to hope that he can continue the tremendous work rate throughout the campaign.
5. Kalvin Phillips
Phillips has been so impressive this season and that is not surprising. The player was hand-picked by Bielsa to play the most important role in his system – that of the deep-lying playmaker who also has to protect the back four.
It is fair to say that he has done very well in the opening three games. The 22-year-old is a product of the Leeds academy but has shown a great maturity despite his lack of years.
Not only is Phillips expected to act as the third centre-back and a defensive midfielder, but he is also responsible for starting attacks, using a range of passing to bring the full-backs and wingers into play with quick transitions. He has made it look easy so far and is fully justifying the faith placed in him by his manager.
The post The top five Leeds players thriving the most under history-maker Marcelo Bielsa appeared first on Squawka News.
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