One of the things Leeds United did well during the summer transfer window was increasing their strength in depth.
We all know players like Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford are always going to play when they’re fit.
However, it was important that we signed players to increase the competition for places and to ensure Daniel Farke can rotate when he chooses.
We saw the benefit of this against Tottenham when new signing Melvin Bard came on for the second half to replace the injured Gabriel Gudmundsson.
But as a result of having this extra quality in areas of the squad, players are bound to miss out as a result and one Leeds United ace recently admitted he has been “unhappy” with his lack of game time this season.
Jaka Bijol “unhappy” after being displaced by Nico Elvedi
When Sebastiaan Bornauw left over the summer, and Nico Elvedi was brought in, at the time it looked to be a like-for-like swap, and Elvedi would come in and be that squad player we can rely on if any other of our centre-backs got injured.
But the Swiss defender has been far more than that.
Elvedi has come in and actually dislodged Jaka Bijol from the starting XI.
After ten Premier League games, Elvedi has played 682 minutes, whilst Bijol has played just 264 minutes. (Sofascore)
Naturally, Bijol, who has started just three league games this season, has been frustrated.
“The situation is a bit different than last season,” Bijol told 24ur.com.
“I’m sure I’ve shown enough this year, so I’m a little disappointed with the whole thing. But that’s how it is; you have to accept it.
“Every footballer who doesn’t play is unhappy. These are facts, and I would be lying if I said anything different.
“On the other hand, I know that the club is doing well. I’m also happy about that, because this is an exceptional club with exceptional fans who deserve good results.
“I also have to have the right attitude and be right in training,” Bijol continued.
“It can happen that everything changes overnight and you’re playing the next day. That’s when you have to be ready to put in a good performance.
“In football, you really depend a lot on one person, but that’s just the way it is. You have to keep going and working. I’ve always believed that the effort in training and putting everything into your work pays off in the end.
“So far, this has always happened, and I believe it will this time too. Keep your head up and keep working.”
Looks as though Jaka Bijol will continue to have to be patient at Leeds
Bijol being on the bench for the majority of this season is not a knock on him or the way he has played for the most part.
It’s just that Elvedi has been incredibly solid, and there’s been no reason to break up the back three of Elvedi, Muharemovic and James Justin in recent weeks.
Bijol did get an opportunity to reclaim his place in the starting XI when he played against Sunderland a couple of weeks ago.
He wasn’t bad per se, but he did not do enough in Farke’s eyes to stop Elvedi from coming straight back in for the subsequent games against Bournemouth and Tottenham after he had recovered from his illness.
So, for now at least, it looks like Bijol has missed his chance.
In his debut campaign in West Yorkshire following his £15million move from Udinese, Bijol started 21 Premier League games and had to endure long spells on the bench at the start of the season and in January.
So the Slovenian having to prove himself to Farke is nothing new.
But if Elvedi and the rest of our backline continue to rack up the clean sheets, then Bijol’s second season at United may be even tougher than his first.
