Javi Gracia makes first mistake as Leeds United manager as Brenden Aaronson lets him down v Chelsea
Javi Gracia’s start to life as the Leeds United manager has been a mixed one.
After winning his first game in charge against Southampton, he’s suffered defeat on the road twice in West London against Fulham in the FA Cup and Chelsea in the Premier League.
On Saturday (4 March), Wes Fofana’s second-half goal was enough to consign Leeds to a result that could leave them in the Premier League’s relegation zone if Everton win away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon (5 March).
It was never going to be straightforward for Leeds to grab a win – or at least a draw – away at Chelsea this weekend even though Graham Potter’s side has been in terrible form.
But it wasn’t made any easier thanks to a lacklustre attacking display from the Whites.
We can forgive Georginio Rutter at this stage.
He’s only 20 years old, it was his first Premier League start and his record at Hoffenheim suggests that he wasn’t brought in to be a regular goalscorer at Leeds.
But Brenden Aaronson, a player who’s won silverware in Austria, played at the World Cup, played over 20 times in the Premier League now and was very much wanted at Elland Road has fewer excuses.
Gracia’s installed Aaronson, 22, back in the starting line-up after he fell out of favour in the dying embers of Jesse Marsch’s reign as United manager.
He’s started both of Gracia’s Premier League matches in charge – to little effect – and had a small role off the bench in the FA Cup loss at Fulham in the week.
The USA international’s performances in the league have been anonymous and ineffective, leading us to think that Gracia has already made his first mistake as Leeds manager for giving the so-called ‘Medford Messi’ a chance back in the side.
Before he was hooked off in the 68th minute against Chelsea, Aaronson had a measly 35 touches of the ball, according to WhoScored.
His pass completion of 77 per cent was the second lowest of Leeds’ outfield players, he didn’t complete a single key pass, he was dispossessed once, completed just two dribbles and was also caught offside once.
If people are criticising Rutter for his performances, they need to look at what’s happening behind him because Aaronson’s playmaking efforts have been woeful.
Leeds paid £24.7million for Aaronson in the summer [Sky Sports].
He’s a player who was wanted under Marcelo Bielsa but was brought in for Marsch as a player who’d played for his fellow American at Red Bull Salzburg.
But if Marsch had lost faith in Aaronson and was struggling to get a tune out of him then it’s likely that the same fate will fall for Gracia.
In other Leeds United news, the club may now face a losing battle to keep their star player at Elland Road beyond the summer transfer window.
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