OPINION
Being called up to represent your national side is one of the greatest honours a footballer can receive but it can often result in a club versus country stand off – which is what Leeds United’s Mateusz Klich will be hoping to avoid.
The Whites confirmed via their official Twitter account that their midfield mainstay had received a call to play for Poland in the upcoming international break as he looks to add to the 15 caps he already has under his belt.
?? | @Cli5hy has been called upto the Poland national team for this month’s Euro 2020 qualification games against Austria and Latvia pic.twitter.com/Iw9DQJe9Oi
— Leeds United (@LUFC) March 11, 2019
It means that while his teammates at Elland Road are deservedly resting their feet after an already arduous three quarters of the season, the 28-year-old will be playing yet more football – the last thing Marcelo Bielsa needs for one of his star men.
An ever present in the side during their Championship title push, with 35 starts in as many games, Klich would no doubt be one of the first players Bielsa would hand some time off to as he looks to catch Norwich City at the top of the table.
Instead the Polish star, who has gone from a fringe figure to a mainstay for both club and country, is likely to be thrown into his national team’s European Championship qualifiers, potentially taking his total tally of games to over 40 before the end of the month and furthering the risk of fatigue and/or injury.
It is an exciting thing to be called up for his country but the opportunity to represent them is surely a poison chalice for his hopes of guiding Leeds to a league title – the Whites best pray that nothing happens to him while away from Elland Road.