Pundit slams ‘inexcusable’ Llorente, suggests Leeds United defender played role in Bielsa sacking
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson has blasted Diego Llorente and says the Leeds United defender played a role in Marcelo Bielsa’s sacking.
Llorente, 28, was superb last season after his bout of injuries but this term, the Spain centre-back has struggled massively.
He’s made countless defensive errors and on Saturday, in the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham in Bielsa’s final game in charge, the ex-Real Sociedad defender was absolutely awful.
Robinson suggests that he feels Llorente is part to blame for Bielsa’s demise at Elland Road but he’s also bemoaned the lack of confidence going forward, which has played a role in the lack of goals this season.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News about Llorente, Robinson said: “Llorente’s defending has been schoolboy at times. His defending has been inexcusable, which hasn’t helped the situation.
“Yes, they’ve created chances but they haven’t got Bamford up there, they haven’t got Kalvin Phillips, they’re creating chances but they’re not taking them.
“Do you know what? The longer it goes, the players don’t want to lose possession so rather than take that chance in the final third, they’ll play the easy ball so they don’t lose possession. Nobody wanted to take that risk.
“The quality in the final third they had has gone due to a lack of confidence. That’s the reason they’re not creating as many chances as they did.”
Llorente has played 22 times in all competitions for Leeds this season.
He was substituted off at half-time in the 4-2 loss to Manchester United before missing the 6-0 loss at Liverpool with a hamstring issue.
However, he returned against Tottenham but could do very little to stop Harry Kane from standing out despite the England captain suffering from a very quiet season by his standards.
In other Leeds United news, images show Bielsa leaving Thorp Arch for the final time.