Dominic Matteo has been speaking on The Phil Hay Show about how Junior Firpo is struggling at Leeds United.
Firpo was brought in over the summer for £13.5 million as regular left-back Ezgjan Alioski departed and opted to play out in Saudi Arabia, however, after just 11 league starts and missing out on several games, it’s not been an ideal debut season at Elland Road.
Has Firpo flopped at Leeds?
Yes!
No!
Given that Leeds are in the thick of a relegation battle, have had several injuries to their squad and even in their last fixture they had to play three full-backs across the back four which will not help anyone, but especially someone that’s a new recruit and coming into the Premier League for the first time.
Matteo, who spent four years with Leeds, has revealed he’s spoken to Firpo this season but acknowledges that he’s struggling.
“You’ve got to get them characters, the leaders, have to get around these boys, especially some of the younger players. Some of the players are new to the club – it’s not an excuse.
“I’ve seen improvement lately in Firpo and I’ve interviewed him myself recently and I thought he’s another one that will get better, but he’s obviously struggling to find his feet.”
TIF Thoughts on Firpo…
It would have been an almighty ask for Firpo to come into a brand new intense league and perform to the level that Marcelo Bielsa demands, however, it’s clearly not just down to Firpo though as one player can’t drag a team down all the way into a relegation battle on their own.
Something that may alarm Leeds fans though is one, the amount of heavy defeats they’ve suffered this season, and two, that Firpo has been featured in their three heaviest league defeats this campaign, while not all goals will have been his fault it could be a concern that’s addressed over the summer.
In other news: Well-known presenter hints for Leeds to sack Bielsa