OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa gave a robust defence this week of Luke Ayling amid growing concern among Leeds United supporters about his recent performances.
The right-back, 27, has been the weakest link in the back four since returning ahead of schedule from a knee injury in mid-December.
Ayling has kept his regular starting spot, although Bielsa tacitly acknowledged the player’s struggles by withdrawing him with 10 minutes remaining in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough.
The former Bristol City defender was more effective in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Swansea City, but demonstrated once again his fallibility by needlessly conceding the late penalty that heaped unnecessary pressure on the hosts in the final stages.
Pundit Neil Mellor, who analysed the match for Sky Sports, questioned Ayling’s decision making in the dying embers of the match.
“It is one of those situations where you say ‘what is the defender doing?’,” Mellor told Sky Sports News. “It’s Luke Ayling, the right full-back. What is he doing making a challenge there? He’s not in any kind of position.
“Ayling, he has got the situation under control [at first]. There is contact and straight away [the referee] points to the penalty spot.”
At the elite level, shrewd and speedy decision-making is key, and there are growing signs that Ayling cannot quite cut it in Bielsa’s high-octane, front foot style.
His attitude and work ethic is admirable and, as Pontus Jansson pointed out on social media in the aftermath of the triumph over Swansea, ‘Bill’ is clearly a great team man who is popular in the dressing room.
But his technical ability and distribution compares unfavourably to the best full-backs in the league, not least Ezgjan Alioski on the opposite flank.
Ayling is in the Leeds team on reputation and not merit. He’s been hopeless of late and Bielsa must axe him.