Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa must start Junior Firpo against Spurs | OneFootball

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Football FanCast

·20 November 2021

Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa must start Junior Firpo against Spurs

Article image:Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa must start Junior Firpo against Spurs

With the international break now firmly in the rear view mirror, Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa will be desperately hoping to pick up some much-needed momentum when his side take on Spurs on Sunday afternoon.

The Whites picked up four points from a possible six in their last two Premier League games before the internationals and will look to kick on when they make the trip to north London to face Antonio Conte’s side.


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Bielsa was given a significant injury boost earlier in the week when Junior Firpo was declared fit, and he should be thrust straight into the starting line-up for the clash against Spurs.

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Article image:Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa must start Junior Firpo against Spurs

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While Firpo may not have been a regular starter at former club Barcelona last season – he played just 18 times in all competitions – he is the kind of attacking left-back who seems to be a perfect fit for Bielsa’s Leeds.

He was once tipped for big things by French defender Eric Abidal, who told Diario Sport (via Tribuna): “He’s a player with a lot of potential. He could be one of the best left-backs in the world. I always tell him that he must work hard and be aware of the (style of) play. He’s going to get better, for sure. It’s always difficult to get started at Barca.”

Speaking to The Yorkshire Evening Post, player analyst Josh Hobbs said of the flying full-back: “Going forwards, he’s a good dribbler – particularly when he gets up to speed and he can steam past players. He likes to play a pass into midfield and then sprint down the line to receive in behind and get into the box.

“His delivery in wide areas is usually a fizzed low cross, which is dangerous as often if the player at the front post misses it, can be met by somebody running centrally or to the back post.”

The £12.5m-rated machine is exactly what Leeds need to help break down Spurs and get their attacking play firing on all cylinders.

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