‘Man on a mission’ – Many Leeds fans hail ace who had ‘best game in recent memory’ v Barnsley
Leeds United needed a big, big performance against Barnsley on Thursday evening.
The Whites knew that a win would put them within touching distance of that long-awaited return to the Premier League, with just one point required from their last two matches.
A 1-0 win was enough to see them over the line against their struggling opposition, but it wasn’t a walk in the park by any means.
There were long spells in this one where the Tykes looked like a genuine threat, and for the first half of the first half in particular, Leeds didn’t look like their usual free-flowing selves.
Thankfully, when they needed a moment of inspiration, it was Mateusz Klich who stepped up to the plate.
The Poland international’s pass into Patrick Bamford in the build to the first goal was inspired, and exhibited the kind of intelligence and vision that have made him such a favourite of Marcelo Bielsa’s.
And the watching Leeds fanbase agreed, with suggestions that the Klich was a level above everybody else on the field, and that he was having his best game in recent memory.
Those are both big shouts, but there’s no doubt that he really made his mark in a game when his presence was made even more important because of the absence of Kalvin Phillips.
And he really shone too – although his excellent passing should hardly come as a surprise given that he has completed 4.4% more forward passes than Phillips this season, and 17.6% more into the penalty area, as per Wyscout.
Again, by no means did Leeds dominate this one, but make no mistake, when they needed a moment of magic, it was Klich who lit the touch paper.
Here are some of the best tweets from delighted Leeds supporters:
In other Leeds United news, ‘Wasted’: These Leeds fans claim ‘horrid’ Bielsa call made 28yo look like ‘muppet’ at HT v Barns.