Noel Whelan has claimed on Sporting Life’s Championship podcast that transformed Kalvin Phillips is proof of the magic of Marcelo Bielsa.
The former Leeds United striker hailed the new manager for getting the best out of academy product Phillips after he “looked lost” for much of last season.
Whelan is explained how the United players have benefitted from being given clearly defined roles by Bielsa, who was appointed the new manager in the summer.
“Look at someone like Kalvin Phillips,” Whelan told the Sporting Life podcast. “He looked lost at points last season in midfield when he didn’t know whether to get into the box or stay in midfield. But so far he’s been a key to their success. He’s been put in the holding role and been told just to sit there and stay. That allows the full backs to bomb on and get upfield.
“He’s been very disciplined in that role and that’s what Belisa has brought to Leeds, which has been lacking for a while.”
OPINION
As a former Leeds player who is a fan of the club and watches all their matches as a pundit for Radio Leeds, Whelan certainly knows his onions and his views on the team this season are worth reading. He’s right in singling out Phillips as a player transformed by the Argentine alchemist in the dugout. The central midfielder is Leeds through and through but his career pre-Marcelo had been marked by inconsistent performances that had often frustrated a fan base eager for him to thrive. Observers could point out that Phillips also started impressively last season under Thomas Christiansen when he was paired alongside Eunan O’Kane in central midfield. The 22-year-old was used as the more attack-minded of the two and responded with a flurry of early-season goals before his performances steadily went downhill along with most of the rest of his teammates. Used in a new midfield anchorman role, Phillips has started very impressively this season as he takes advantage of the master coaching of Bielsa.