Senior Leeds stars told to defy Bielsa after unexpected reveal – Mills
The senior players of Leeds United need to defy Marcelo Bielsa’s man-to-man tactics when they are being dominated by top sides.
That is the view of ex-Whites and England defender Danny Mills, speaking exclusively to Football Insider after Bielsa took the blame for Leeds’ 7-0 humiliation to Man City on Tuesday (14 December).
As quoted by the Guardian after the game, the Argentine unexpectedly admitted his game plan was “not good enough” and defined the game.
It was the Yorkshire giants’ joint heaviest defeat in their 102-year history and Bielsa’s worst as a manager.
“Players have to be responsible as well,” Mills told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley.
“It’s honourable of the manager but as he said, they prepared in the right way, they knew what to expect so players do have to take some responsibility for that.
“They’re not robots, they have to be experienced enough and mature enough to work it out for yourself at times when things aren’t working. They clearly weren’t.
“You have to think ‘We’re doing this and getting battered, maybe let’s not do it’. That takes leadership and strong character to say ‘Hang on, for 10 minutes we’re going to be a bit more solid and stop this man to man system’.
“In the first half, Rodri just kept running off the back of Tyler Roberts constantly.
“When the man to man system works it’s amazing. When one part of the jigsaw doesn’t work or lets you down, it falls apart very quickly.
“You have to remember Man City were technically and tactically brilliant.”
In other news, Raphinha and Diego Llorente are among seven Leeds United stars causing a ‘massive worry for Bielsa’.