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Bielsa lauds Struijk, Llorente and Koch after Leeds win over Spurs
Marcelo Bielsa has labelled Robin Koch one of the bright lights from Leeds United’s win over Spurs on Saturday, while also lauding Pascal Struijk and Diego Llorente’s displays – .
The trio got the chance to start together once again at Elland Road after a difficult day against Brighton last time out.
Leeds were beaten on that occasion. But they were outstanding against Ryan Mason’s side to get back to winning ways.
And the defence deserve great credit for largely keeping the visitors’ front four quiet for the majority of the game.
Harry Kane seemed to barely get a kick over the course of the contest, while Koch really showed why he has previously been deployed in holding midfield for Germany.
And when asked about Struijk’s performance, Bielsa suggested that he could ask for no more from all three men.
“Yes, today was a very difficult game for Llorente, Pascal and Koch,” he said, . “Pascal had a performance without errors and Llorente the same. Very solid to defend and secure in the management of the lead.
“Robin was one of the bright lights of the game. He defended well and he didn’t lose the ball. The three of them, alongside the two full-backs, had the task of neutralising the sector where Tottenham had their best players.”
Struijk continues to prove a revelation having barely played in the first-team before this season. Llorente meanwhile, has arguably established himself as Leeds’s best centre-back after a superb run in the side.
Plenty of fans felt that Koch was Leeds’s best player at Brighton last weekend. But he seemed to take his game to another level against Tottenham.
It would be huge for Leeds to have someone who can support Kalvin Phillips in that holding midfield role.
Doubts were raised regarding how Bielsa’s men would cope without him ahead of the Spurs game.
But Leeds responded with arguably their best performance this season.