Former Premier League man Dean Ashton has torn into Marcelo Bielsa and his Leeds United side following their defeat to Everton.
Bielsa’s men went down 2-1 at home to the Toffees, with the second goal they conceded coming virtue of a corner that was eventually turned home by Dominic Calvert-Lewin at the back post.
And via TalkSPORT Daily podcast, Ashton talked about Leeds United’s weakness from set-pieces, saying that they could be further up the table if it wasn’t such a problem for them.
He said: “Leeds are appalling from set plays, they’re abysmal. It’s something that Bielsa and the team have to get a grip on, because at the moment, that is holding them back at times, especially against teams like Everton, like West Ham – the teams that are very, very good from set plays. It’s all a bit easy for them.”
Do you agree that Bielsa needs to adapt Leeds' tactics next season?
No, there's no problem
Yes, they need to change
TIF Thoughts on Dean Ashton’s comments about Leeds United at set-pieces…
Ashton’s words are easily backed up by the fact the club have conceded the most goals from set-pieces in the Premier League this season. So whilst they may get praise for their ‘entertaining’ style when the ball is in open play, there certainly is a major blind spot whilst adapting to the Premier League, because it wasn’t as big a problem for them in the Championship last campaign.
At the end of the day though, given where Leeds are in the table and the journey they have been on recently under Bielsa compared to where they were in the years preceding him, to have one area like this be a problem whilst they’re establishing themselves in the division shouldn’t come across as a major concern.
If they want to take a step forward next season and maybe push for Europe and it’s still happening, then might be the time to do something about it.