Diego Llorente: ‘I feel sorry’ for Leeds star due to ‘big problem’ caused by Bielsa – pundit
Alan Hutton has suggested Marcelo Bielsa needs to address his defensive tactics at Leeds United after Wednesday’s 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool.
The former Scotland defender, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted he “feels sorry” for the likes of Diego Llorente after watching the Whites concede three or more goals in their four league games.
Llorente, 28, was forced to watch from the sidelines as Liverpool ran riot against Bielsa’s men last night.
However, he started the 3-3 draw with Aston Villa, the 3-0 defeat to Everton and the 4-2 loss at home to Manchester United.
Hutton suggested the centre-backs are being left too exposed by Bielsa’s tactics.
He insisted “little” tactical decisions are creating a “big problem” at Elland Road.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Look at the last few games; Villa, they concede three, Everton, three, Man United, four, Liverpool, six.
“They play Tottenham next. I would be more worried thinking: ‘Let’s sort out the defence.’ If you keep clean sheets, you’ll win games and pick up points.
“If you’ve got a solid base and solid backline, you’ll always have an opportunity. They don’t seem to have that at the moment.
“I think you have to be together as a unit. What you need to remember is, if you’re playing man-to-man coverage or the manager’s asking people to go tight and leave gaps, you’re covering a large area by yourself.
“It can mean last-ditch tackles or trying to cover two players. That can drag you out of position. All these little things make a big problem.
“You wonder if maybe looking at the tactics and how they actually set themselves up. Can they just go with four at the back and two sitters and that’s how they play?
“Not asking everybody to run all over the pitch and do different jobs. They’ve got enough firepower, in my opinion, to cause problems.
“So work on being solid at the back, a good foundation to move forward. I do feel sorry for the likes of Llorente because sometimes there are large gaps that they have to cover on his own.”
As reported by the Athletic (24 February), Llorente missed Wednesday’s game with a hamstring injury.
Pascal Struijk and Luke Ayling started at centre-back in his absence.
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