Sky Sports pundit moots behind-the-scenes issue for Raphinha at Leeds United
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 feels there were issues behind the scenes at Leeds United with Raphinha before Marcelo Bielsa was sacked.
Raphinha’s form has been notably poor since the start of February and Bielsa wasn’t afraid to axe the Brazilian winger when the rut started.
The 25-year-old was hooked at half-time in the 3-0 loss to Everton on 12 February and then dropped from the starting line-up for the 4-2 loss against Manchester United a week later.
Even though Bielsa’s now gone and Jesse Marsch is in charge, the ex-Rennes winger hardly impressed as the Whites lost 1-0 to Leicester at the weekend in Marsch’s first game.
Robinson feels as though the club’s form could be having an effect on Raphinha while the ex-goalkeeper also believes something was a miss prior to Bielsa’s sacking.
“There were obviously problems behind the scenes because Bielsa took Raphinha off at half-time against Everton and then didn’t start him in the next game,” Robinson told MOT Leeds News.
“He has been Leeds’ best player over the last 12 or 18 months but he has to remember what got him into that position and what got him to be the best player; it was the work rate, the attitude and the effort. And I think that was lacking towards the end of Bielsa’s reign.
“When results aren’t going right for you, a dressing room is a difficult place to be. We know the training was tough and we know the manager demanded a lot from them and it’s quite easy to go out on a Tuesday and run two miles after winning 3-0 on the Saturday.
“But when the results aren’t great and the manager’s got the big stick out and he’s telling you to run around, around and around, it’s difficult and players get grumpy and moody and things will be said.
“It’s very easy to keep a dressing room happy when you’re winning but when you’re losing and things aren’t going right, it’s tough.
“Raphinha – as will everyone else – get a clean slate with the new manager and every one of them will have to prove themselves again.”
Raphinha is Leeds’ top goalscorer this season.
He’s scored nine goals and supplied two assists in 25 Premier League appearances this term and has been linked with a move away from Elland Road.
The Daily Star reported on 21 January that the Whites are desperate to keep Raphinha and have opened talks to improve his existing £55,000-a-week contract at the club.
In other Leeds United news, this senior player is in a precarious position at Elland Road after what happened at the weekend.