'He is going to shine a lot in this team' - Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa reiterates backing for attacker - YEP 16/9/21
Marcelo Bielsa saw Rodrigo come close to creating danger against Liverpool on 10 occasions and continues to back the Spaniard to shine at Leeds United.
By Graham Smyth
Rodrigo played just 45 minutes against Jurgen Klopp's Reds,
departing at half-time as Bielsa sent on Tyler Roberts in his place during the
3-0 defeat.
The Whites' record signing, a £27m summer 2020 arrival from
Valencia, missed a golden early chance to put Leeds in front and appeared to
struggle to get on the same page as his team-mates before being substituted,
although his final action of the half was a dangerous cross for Luke Ayling who
kneed the ball over the bar.
The head coach found positives in Rodrigo's display,
however.
"Rodrigo from my point of view, even though I
substituted him, he played a very positive first half," said Bielsa.
"For a striker it is very difficult to receive the ball
from which to create danger and I give a lot of value to those actions from
when you receive the ball, creating as much danger as possible. Rodrigo had ten
interventions of this type. He was close to creating danger. In none of the
actions did he manage to accomplish it, but I give a lot of value to his
constant looking, that constant looking for actions that will allow us to score
a goal. You can fail to shine by not finishing the chances or you can fail to
shine due to not generating chances. And Rodrigo in the first half of the last
game, he created a lot of actions from which you would have imagined us scoring
a goal."
Last season was a difficult and frustrating one for the
Spanish international. Covid-19 and a groin injury disrupted his season and
prevented him from building up a head of steam of finding rhythm, only showing
glimpses of his obvious talent and intelligence.
Bielsa kept faith with the Brazil-born 30-year-old and got
some reward with a flurry of goals and improved performances right at the end
of the campaign. The hope at Elland Road was that a full pre-season, his first
as a Leeds player, would allow Rodrigo to hit the ground running in his second
season.
So far, that has not proved a reality, Bielsa withdrawing
Rodrigo at half-time in the defeat at Manchester United, leaving him on the
bench against Everton due to a slight knock, subbing him in the draw at Burnley
and at the interval against Liverpool. With Patrick Bamford nailing down the
lone striker role entirely on merit ever since the club's final Championship
season, Rodrigo's best chance of featuring is in an attacking midfield role
that is yet to allow him to look completely at home.
On numerous occasions Bielsa has gone on record to laud the
qualities of the former Benfica man and has taken responsibility for Rodrigo's inability
to show his full capabilities.
Ahead of tomorrow's visit to Newcastle United, Bielsa
reiterated his faith that Rodrigo will be a star for Leeds.
"When he manages to be efficient he is going to be a
player that shines a lot in this team," added the Argentine.