Bielsa: Cooper and Dallas good enough for the Premier League
Kalvin Phillips might have dominated the Leeds headlines this week as the standout star of the Bielsa era signed a new five-year deal, but the manager paid a special tribute to two of his teammates on Friday.
Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper also signed new long-term deals this week – Dallas for four years and Cooper for five.
In Friday’s press conference, Bielsa said that he believed both players were good enough for the Premier League, name-checking Dallas’ performance for Northern Ireland against Germany on Monday as proof.
Northern Ireland lost 2-0 but Dallas put in a really good shift for his country and he was a constant threat down the flanks, in the position Bielsa has converted him to for Leeds.
He went close for his country in a game where former Leeds goalie Bailey Peacock-Farrell also impressed.
Dallas got the joint-highest rating for Northern Ireland from Belfast Live (8/10) who said he put in a disciplined display and almost equalised in the second half.
Germany only sealed the win with a late goal from Serge Gnabry in injury time.
Cooper had a more torrid international break playing in both of Scotland’s defeats to Russia and Belgium.
Both players are expected to play for Leeds on Sunday, with right-back Luke Ayling ‘healthy’ again but set for Under23s action next week.