OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa is good at handing out praise to the players he thinks deserves it. A few weeks ago it was Luke Ayling who got the Bielsa treatment. On Monday it was Liam Cooper and the Leeds fans are in complete agreement with their manager.
The centre-back has been a rock for Leeds this season, and has built up a brilliant partnership with Pontus Jansson that’s seen them keep two consecutive clean sheets, with Leeds only conceding four in the last six.
That’s the sort of form at the back that will see Leeds promoted and another two clean sheets this week would see them take a massive step back to the top-flight.
It’s Reading today and then the huge clash with Sheffield United on Saturday. And, in Monday’s press conference, Bielsa said of Cooper: “You can’t find a better professional than him. he feels love for his profession, apart from the fact that it’s his job. He is generous and prioritises the needs of his team-mates before his own. He’s always willing to help.”
Bielsa on Cooper and his captaincy: "You can't find a better professional than him. He feels love for his profession, apart from the fact that it's his job. He is generous and he prioritises the needs of his team-mates before his own. He's always willing to help." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) March 11, 2019
Leeds fans, who have been very critical of Cooper in the past, believe he’s undergone a huge transformation under Bielsa this season. And, ahead of the Reading game, they’ve been sending their own tributes on Twitter.
Here are the best from Leeds fans in love with their rock at the back:
https://twitter.com/NeroLUFC/status/1105150525614579713
People talk about the turnaround in Philips, Roofe etc. Alioksi another. But the change in Cooper this year; unbelievable. At times over the last couple of years he hasn't looked anywhere near champ calibre, but bloody hell him and Jansson are monsters this year #lufc
— Tom (@TomKimber_) March 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/THuff1994/status/1105086758188994560
https://twitter.com/Roicrabier2017/status/1105090112268980229
https://twitter.com/Deanoc72/status/1105106877938053121
Agree. Coops has copped a ton of stick in the past off the usual buffoonish suspects. Yet here he is. Bielsa’s own CB and captain.
— EdmondDantes (@LeComtedeMonteC) March 11, 2019
Considering all abuse he got from some of the fans last season he has really shown his worth.
— Djnicholson (@Djnicholson6) March 11, 2019
https://twitter.com/MattJLufc/status/1105083519146041344
https://twitter.com/falsenine_82/status/1105066273233428480
I’ve been critical of Liam Cooper in recent seasons but this season he’s been a brick wall at the back for Leeds #lufc #mot
— LUFC Connor? (@ConnorMOT92) March 11, 2019
Liam Cooper. No one’s kopped more shit from us or for as long. No one’s taken it with as much good grace & kept working diligently. No one’s been as consistently an upstanding, decent human. No one’s improved as much. No one deserves it as much as Liam Cooper, our captain. #lufc https://t.co/E8ZQMGr55G
— Max (@AtypicalLeeds) March 10, 2019