Diego Llorente: Pundit fears Leeds defender ‘crisis’ after ‘damage done’
Alex McLeish has suggested Diego Llorente may be suffering a “confidence crisis” at Leeds United following Sunday’s 4-2 defeat to Manchester United.
The former Scotland manager, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, admitted the 28-year-old found himself “exposed” against the Red Devils.
The Spanish defender came off at half-time and has since come under heavy fire for his performance.
Speaking during Sky Sports’ coverage of Sunday’s game (20 February), Jamie Redknapp blasted Llorente for focusing on trying to stop Harry Maguire instead of the ball for Manchester United’s opener.
He insisted there was “no excuse” and that the Spaniard’s efforts were “not good enough”.
McLeish echoed Redknapp’s verdict and suggested Llorente’s self-belief has taken a big hit in recent weeks.
“I think it’s folly to try and arrest the movement of your opponent rather than going for the ball,” McLeish told Football Insider’s Russell Edge.
“I do totally agree with Redknapp’s opinion on that. It’s not even opinion, it’s just a matter of fact of what you should be doing.
“Instead of watching the man, you’ve got to be looking at the ball and saying: ‘I’m going to get to it before he does.’
“Harry Maguire was far too strong, he muscled him out of it. Maguire watched the ball all the way. The damage was done.
“Llorente may be going through a bit of a confidence crisis at the moment. This is what happens in the big games. Especially in the big games, you get exposed against the better players.”
Llorente has played 21 times across all competitions for Leeds this season.
The Whites face Liverpool at Anfield tonight (23 February).
In other news, ex-defender calls for two significant changes after Robin Koch statement from Leeds United.