Beren Cross suggests ‘taboo subject’ of fatigue after Leeds United run ragged in Marcelo Bielsa’s formation
The tactical plan for the Everton defeat left Leeds United players overrun and exhausted following the mid-week draw according to Leeds Live’s Beren Cross.
Frank Lampard’s side blew United away in a 3-0 win at Goodison Park that saw various questions pointed at manager Marcelo Bielsa, who admitted afterwards he made an “error” in the positioning of Mateusz Klich (Leeds Live) and also withdrew Brazilian star Raphinha at half time.
The home side appeared to best the Whites at their own game, by pressing harder and showing more energy, but Cross believes the deployment of a 3-3-1-3 formation was a big mistake, especially after the 3-3 draw at Aston Villa, as “shocked faces” at Goodison saw a top home performance.
Writing for Leeds Live he says: “Whether it is the shape itself or the lack of time spent practising it in competitive matches, this team has rarely played in it at a level which builds confidence on the terraces.
“Discussing player fatigue under Bielsa can feel like a taboo subject at times because it has been so carelessly thrown at the head coach by the wider world at entirely inappropriate points, but Wednesday was tough on an unchanged line-up.
“There is no shame in admitting Luke Ayling, Klich and others did look a touch leggy at times on Saturday. Heroic fightbacks like those at Villa Park do not come without a physical sacrifice and Saturday’s system just seemed to stretch those bodies a little too much.”
Surprising mistake
Such is the credit that the Argentinian boss has built up at Elland Road, he will not be second-guessed too hard for his errors on Saturday.
But it was a crucial set of missteps in a match that will have given the chasing Everton huge confidence and done the exact opposite for his own side.
There were a lot of positives to come out of the exciting draw in mid-week, not least from Bielsa’s chosen central striker Dan James.
But that all felt like it had gone to waste, as the energy exerted in the trip to Villa Park could not be matched at Goodison.
Personal decisions, including removing the admittedly undercooked Raphinha at half-time and move Wednesday’s hero James to the right in favour of the underwhelming Tyler Roberts, were damaging.
The manager trusts his system and he trusts his players, but none of them got it right this weekend in a major game.
Lessons will need to be learned fast to avoid dropping into real difficulty in the league.
In other Leeds United news, Gary Lineker and Danny Murphy were baffled by the boss’ “really strange decision”.