Georginio Rutter answers calls to improve with Leeds United display against Leicester
It’s safe to say that Georginio Rutter is finally becoming the sort of player that Leeds United and their supporters thought they had signed in January.
The Frenchman has been in inspired form since the Whites returned to the Championship and has been one of Daniel Farke’s best players, consistently tormenting defenders with moments of incredible skill and wonderful technique.
But one area supporters and journalists have been calling for Rutter to improve in has been his finishing, as heading into Friday night’s (3 November) clash with Leicester City, the 21-year-old had only scored two league goals all season.
Phil Hay was one man to call for Rutter to score more goals, suggesting that the Whites would have hoped that their number nine would have been more prolific in the early stages of the campaign [The Square Ball, 30 October].
Against Leicester, the Frenchman answered that call, with his second-half strike ultimately proving to be the winner at the King Power Stadium as he scored the only goal as Farke’s side ran out 1-0 winners over the Championship leaders.
Rutter’s strike was the exact sort of strike that Leeds United would have hoped to see from their frontman as he tapped in from close range, converting the chance with his left foot that registered an incredibly high xG of 0.77 [Fotmob].
It was the only clear chance that the 21-year-old had in the entire game, with his only other two attempts coming from the edge of the box. With both of those efforts, Rutter made sure to test Mads Hermansen in the Foxes’ net as he hit the target twice.
The French forward didn’t have to sacrifice the creative side of his game to be incredibly effective in front of goal, as he still created two chances for his teammates, with an impressive four passes into the final third.
Rutter has produced much more exciting displays for the Whites and has scored much better goals, but few will have been as important as his tap-in on Friday night and that is the sort of goal that you expect your primary number nine to score.
One goal doesn’t solve the striker’s finishing problem in its entirety, but he has shown that he is capable of matching the expectations of Leeds and journalists like Hay, now he has to do that consistently, week in and week out
Surely if he can be clinical against Leicester, he can do it for the remainder of Leeds’ campaign and the gals will start flowing.
In other Leeds United news, Farke has offered his verdict on the 49ers’ work so far and has admitted that there’s work to be done