MOT View: Dyche’s comments show Leeds are being held to higher regard in the PL
Sean Dyche’s post-match comments after seeing his side lose 1-0 to Leeds United at Elland Road were telling.
As reported by Lancs Live, the Burnley boss made a very specific comment about the performance of his side against Leeds, saying: “We outran them and outperformed them but couldn’t find the breakthrough and credit to them for that because it has not been easy for them to find a clean sheet.”
It is telling that the first remark Dyche made was the fact that they ‘outran’ Leeds and it highlights how the Whites are being held to higher regard in the Premier League.
Dyche is not the first manager to make similar remarks this season – after the defeat to Chelsea, much was made in the media of the fact the Blues supposedly ran 3km more than Leeds.
Speaking after the defeat to Chelsea, Bielsa said: “In this game Chelsea produced their best game in terms of physical data. It’s not they improved just a little bit, they increased about 20 per cent in all their physical aspects.
Teams no longer feel as though they can just beat Leeds. They have to outrun them too.
Even if you do not beat Leeds, outrunning them is now being viewed as a small victory.
West Ham were another great example of a team upping their game at Elland Road – a report from Leeds Live revealed that they too put in a personal best in terms of physical performance against Leeds.
The Hammers raised their game at Elland Road, but have not won in the Premier League since then.
Very rarely does a newly-promoted team strike such fear into teams throughout the Premier League.
In recent years we have seen Sheffield United come up and do well with their innovative overlapping defenders and Wolves arrive in the Premier League with lots of quality, but Leeds are becoming a phenomenon among managers.
The reaction we are seeing from rival Premier League managers is a testament to the brilliant work of Marcelo Bielsa and it should be seen as a badge of honour for the Whites.
In other Leeds United news, ‘Outstanding’ – Warnock wowed by one ‘Brilliant’ Leeds player after narrow win v Burnley