Sky Sports pundit hates what he saw Raphinha do in Leeds United win v Brentford, says it’s ‘stupid’
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 was blown away by Raphinha’s performance for Leeds United as they sealed their Premier League survival with a win at Brentford on Sunday (22 May).
Raphinha, 25, had been a bit off the boil in the second half of the season but there was no denying his role in Leeds’ 2-1 victory away in West London as he scored the first of his side’s two goals.
After the game, Raphinha celebrated wildly with the Leeds fans and while he was impressed with his overall performance, there was still one issue with the Brazilian that rubbed Robinson up the wrong way.
“Raphinha’s attitude and application have been questioned this season and you can see why. But against Brentford, he stepped up. He was outstanding,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“He was a leader in his performance.
“The way he smashed that penalty in that situation, with the amount of pressure that was on his shoulders – he did that stupid stuttering run-up that I hate – it was absolutely fantastic.
“It showed a lot of nerve and a lot of bottle to do that so I think his performance around the goal was outstanding.
“Rapkinha was at his best and he stood up to be counted.
“He hasn’t done that all season but he did at Brentford.”
Raphinha ends the season with 11 goals and three assists in 35 Premier League appearances.
He’s been strongly linked with a move to Barcelona with the winger’s crazy celebrations at Brentford looking as though they could have been down to him heading away from Elland Road.
A week earlier, after the 1-1 draw with Brighton at Elland Road, Raphinha looked dejected and had to be consoled by Kalvin Phillips and Victor Orta while he was slumped up against the goalpost.
In other Leeds United news, this player is set to undergo a medical “soon” with the Whites.