Leeds United being 7pts clear of drop a ‘miracle’ given injury crisis
Leeds United have been dealing with an injury crisis like they’ve never had before and it has had a major impact on their Premier League position.
Marcelo Bielsa has been taking on the might of England’s best teams with both hands tied behind his back but that hasn’t deterred him or caused him to plead for a postponement.
The Premier League rules used to say that if less than 13 senior players were fit, including a goalkeeper, then the club could ask for a postponement but the Argentine only did so when COVID-19 entered the camp.
Leeds Live journalist Joe Donnohue has been crunching the numbers and it is remarkable reading as his research today (3 February) reveals that senior players at Elland Road have missed a collective 90 games this season alone.
“Due to injuries, COVID & suspension, Leeds United’s 20-man senior squad has missed a collective 90 games this season,” Donnohue tweeted from his personal account, along with an excel spreadsheet screenshot of each game this season.
“At no point has there been a fully available squad to choose from & in 9 of 21 PL games, #LUFC have had 5+ absences. To be 7 pts clear of the drop is a miracle.”
Make do and get on with it
Leeds United have rightly been praised for their no-nonsense attitude when it comes to these issues while other clubs have been calling games off despite having fewer players unavailable.
The spirit of the players and the supporters has shone through as they are determined to plough on regardless of the problems at hand.
The height of the problems came during the busy December-January period where at least half a dozen players were absent for five games in a row.
The home fixture against Arsenal was the worst of the problem as only nine senior players were fit to play but they carried on.
They may have lost that game 4-1 against a young and exciting Gunners side but they gained respect from all corners of the country for their attitude.
In other Leeds United news, this Whites pair have been selected in the worst Premier League XI of the season based on statistics.