Journalist Conor McGilligan has claimed that Kalvin Phillips looked ‘completely dejected’ after Leeds United’s last game.
In the Premier League this week, the Whites held on for a point in a hard-fought goalless draw away against Crystal Palace. While the game may well be remembered for its intensity, it seems as though not all the Leeds players were happy with how they were asked to approach the game.
Indeed, while speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan suggested that Phillips was not happy with the ‘style of football’ that was being played under the watch of boss Jesse Marsch.
Will Kalvin Phillips thrive under Jesse Marsch?
Yes
No
Speaking on Tuesday following the point at Selhurst Park, he explained: “Kalvin Phillips after the game looking completely dejected, just at the style of football.
“And you know, you normally see Kalvin with a big beaming smile at the end of football games. He didn’t have that on his face last night.”
TIF Thoughts on Kalvin Phillips and Leeds…
In the end, the game ended in a draw, which now means Leeds have gone unbeaten in their last five Premier League outings. This form has given their hopes of survival a huge boost.
However, if McGilligan’s assertion is true, it seems like Phillips wanted more than just a point in a scrappy game. Leeds ended the match with 47% possession and had just nine shots compared to Palace’s 17, while their passing accuracy was down at 69% (via SofaScore).
With that in mind, it’s easy to understand why Phillips may well have been unhappy with the style of play the Whites adopted. That was only his third appearance for Marsch, and considering he played 131 times for former boss Marcelo Bielsa, he might need a little more time to adjust to a new tactical setup.
With relegation still a threat, however, fans will be hoping player and manager can see eye to eye soon enough.
In other news: Days are numbered: Leeds ‘liability’ could now be in trouble as Orta plans talks – opinion