Ben Parker hailed Pablo Hernandez as “head and shoulders above every player” in Leeds United’s Championship defeat to Sheffield United.
The ex-Leeds midfielder was blown away by the Spaniard’s invention and ability to find space, noting how his alliance with Luke Ayling on the right flank is reaping real dividends.
United slipped to third in the Championship after the Yorkshire derby defeat but Parker claimed there was plenty of positive signs from Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Speaking on the latest edition of Proper Sport’s LS11 podcast (19:40), Parker said: “Pablo Hernandez, first half especially, was head and shoulders above every player on the pitch. He just finds space. We always say good players seem to have time, and he seemed to have so much time on the ball. He was picking passes, little dinks over the top, through balls.
“Him and Ayling have been combining well in recent games – Ayling bombing forward – and using that right-hand side really well.”
OPINION
Hernandez turns 34 next month and, remarkably, appears to be getting better rather than worse, which is what would be expected for a player of his years. Like a vintage Rioja from his homeland, the Spanish maestro is aging wonderfully well. From his right-flank role, he conducts the Leeds orchestra, finding pockets of space to create mayhem and unpick well-drilled defences. Bielsa’s side were unable to score against Sheffield United, or even force Dean Henderson into a single save, but they dominated the play, particularly through Hernandez and Ayling, 27, on the right flank, and were good value for a goal or three, especially in a dominant first-half display. Credit to the Blades for weathering the all-White storm, but there was much for Leeds to be positive about as they pick over the bones of a defeat that takes automatic promotion out of their hands. For now. Nevertheless, there is plenty of time still to claw back the deficit on Norwich and Sheffield United.