Leeds United

8 accurate passes: Long-term Leeds United favourite looks the perfect fit for Pablo Hernandez role under Jesse Marsch

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Speculation is lingering suggesting that Mateusz Klich could be making his final Leeds United appearances.

Leeds has been Klich’s home since 2017 and he’s been at the heart of a successful period for the club from the first whistle of the 2018/19 campaign.

However, the minutes have dried up a touch under Jesse Marsch and, with a place in Poland’s World Cup squad on the line, it’s a possibility that the 32-year-old will move on to play the minutes required to book his seat on the plane.

What Marsch and Elland Road saw on Saturday afternoon against Wolves, though, was just how important Klich could be for Leeds this season in the Premier League.

Klich was introduced on 65 minutes, replacing Rodrigo at a time where Bruno Lage’s side were turning the screw and threatening to get themselves back ahead when the game was poised at 1-1.

Nine minutes after coming on, Klich slipped Patrick Bamford into the penalty area and his cross was turned into his own goal by Rayan Ait-Nouri under pressure from Brenden Aaronson. That was one of Klich’s eight accurate passes in the game (Wyscout) and contributed to a 100% accuracy of his attempted passes into the final third and penalty area.

The Poland international got Leeds playing in the right areas, also having two touches in the Wolves penalty area himself, as well as finding a white shirt with his sole cross.

Marsch used Klich fantastically from the bench, showing his tactical awareness to change personnel to swing the game in Leeds’ favour. It’s encouraging to see the American and his staff so clued up at a time where substitutions are never more important now you can make up to five in a game.

Marcelo Bielsa was the last Leeds head coach to have that luxury, albeit temporarily, during the nine-game burst in which promotion was won in 2020.

During that time, Bielsa’s use of a half-fit Pablo Hernandez was key. El Mago stepped off the bench in six of those nine fixtures to guide Leeds back to the Premier League. The time he spent on the pitch squeezed every drop out of him at a time when 90 minutes wasn’t really an option.

SWANSEA, WALES – JULY 12: Pablo Hernandez of Leeds United celebrates his sides first goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Leeds United at the Liberty Stadium on July 12, 2020 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Leeds United quiz: Has Mateusz Klich scored a goal against the following 15 clubs?

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Has Klich scored against Middlesbrough?

We aren’t suggesting that Klich isn’t capable of playing 90 minutes every week, which would be an insult to a player that’s been more machine than man ever since he arrived at Elland Road. His 25 minute cameo against Wolves, though, had shades of Hernandez’s June and July impact back in 2020.

Klich’s running caused Wolves a number of problems and got Leeds 15-20 yards further up the field. Tactically, he was the right change at the right time, helping to get Marsch’s side off to the perfect start in the Premier League.

Quite whether that role is enough to keep him at Elland Road this month remains to be seen. Klich wants to be playing and, on the evidence of what he did on Saturday, he deserves a more prominent role than what Marsch can promise him.

His role at Leeds has changed, but he can still be so important. Saturday showed that and convinced many leaving Elland Road that everything should be done to retain him.

Should Leeds sell Klich?

Yes

Yes

No

No

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Leeds United Season Ticket Holder at Elland Road for over 20 seasons. Currently nestled in N12, but occasionally offering views from the press box. We’ve been through it all together? You bet.