Phil Hay has been speaking on the latest edition of The Athletic’s The Phil Hay Show about all things relating to Leeds United.
One of the topics that Hay spent some time on was Rodrigo, who was brought on as a substitute in the first half against Chelsea because of Patrick Bamford’s injury.
He was then brought off in the second half for Mateusz Klich as he continues his recovery from a groin injury.
Leeds signed the 30-year-old for £27m in the last summer transfer window, and though Hay doesn’t think that Rodrigo has struggled to settle into life at Leeds, he thinks he could be frustrated by his recent injury and exclusion from the Spain squad.
He said: “You’re going to see Rodrigo come back gently and gradually in this period.
“He wasn’t in the Spain squad this week, he’s missing from that. And obviously, the Euros are coming around, so this is a pretty critical period for him.
“I think there probably will be some underlying frustration with how his first season has gone, because he can’t quite get into that groove where he’s impacting on the game every week.
“I think he’s perfectly happy at the club. I don’t get the sense that he hasn’t settled in England or hasn’t settled in Leeds, but it’s been almost impossible for him to settle properly into the starting lineup because he’s been in and out too much.”
Do you think Rodrigo has struggled?
Yes, at times
No, he has been fine
TIF Thoughts on Rodrigo…
Since signing for the Whites from Valencia, Rodrigo has played in 20 league games, scoring three goals and providing one assist.
However, he has suffered from illness and injury and also has been moved around by Bielsa, with the Argentine playing him in three different positions this season.
However, it is good to hear that he is settled in Leeds, and Bielsa is also backing him to succeed.