Dan James and Raphinha backed to unlock Leeds United’s Premier League potential - Yorkshire Post 3/10/21
Marcelo Bielsa says Dan James is improving with every game for Leeds United and is ready to play an important part in a season which finally got going at the weekend.
By Stuart Rayner
There were many important contributions to the Whites’ 1-0
win over Watford at Elland Road on Saturday, a first Premier League victory of
the season which was far more dominant than the scoreline made it look.
With his energetic pressing, his speedy running on and off
the ball and diligent tracking back, though, James was arguably the pick. With
Raphinha also performing well in and out of possession on the opposite side,
and Jack Harrison unused on the bench, coach Bielsa is blessed with three
high-quality options on the wing at present.
“Every time he plays, he plays better than the previous
game,” said Bielsa of James, signed from Manchester United on deadline day
two-and-a-half years after Leeds first tried to buy him.
“He showed resources and qualities we know he has.
“I think he’s going to make a special contribution to our
team.”
Raphinha enhanced the team last season more than any player
signed last summer and has taken that form into his second Premier League
campaign, putting the Brazilian in line to make his international debut this
month. As well as his ability, Bielsa is impressed by the workrate of the
winger, who now leaves for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela, Colombia and
Uruguay (the first two away).
“It’s not common,” he said of the 24-year-old’s combination
of attacking ability and defensive application.
“He’s a player that stands out. Due to standing out he
doesn’t demand privileges – the opposite, he takes on more obligations.
“That’s why he’s a player that’s valued so much by all of
us, due to his humility and his capacity for effort that are not common when
you accompany it with so much talent.”
Harrison, who played a part in every league game he was
eligible for from December 23, 2018 to September 12 (he missed two because he
was on loan from opponents Manchester City), has only featured in one of the
last three, as a substitute against West Ham United.
He was on the bench on Saturday, but only to be used in case
of an emergency. With Crysencio Summerville ill, Stuart McKinstry was also an
unused substitute.
“I was only going to bring Harrison on if it was essential,”
clarified Bielsa.
“He has an important pain in his oblique (muscles) and it
wasn’t necessary for him to come on.
“There are three players who are very close to each other
(in ability – Raphinha, James and Harrison) and we also have Summerville and
McKinstry who also have value.”
Leeds won Saturday’s game courtesy of an 18th-minute goal
from Diego Llorente. Tyler Roberts hit the crossbar in the 88th minute.
Wales international Roberts came off the bench and added to
Leeds’s attacking threat as they tried in vain to turn their territorial
dominance into a more convincing margin of victory.
The attacking midfielder or forward can be a divisive figure
amongst the Leeds support and Bielsa said of him: “He still hasn’t been able to
link his qualities with his performances.
“I in particular have a lot of confidence in his resources.
I feel he’s a player that can unbalance (opposition teams).
“I hope he can evolve and take up a leading role in our
team. Against Watford he took a step forward.”
Centre-back Llorente’s finish was an instinctive one as the
ball fell to him at a corner.
“I found the ball near me and I didn’t think, I just kicked
it and had luck,” said the Spaniard.
Watford responded to the defeat by sacking manager Xisco,
who led the newly-promoted club to two wins and a draw from their opening six
matches before Saturday’s limp defeat. The Hornets will now look for what might
laughingly be called their 14th permanent manager since Giampaolo Pozzo bought
the club and sacked Sean Dyche in 2012.
