Leeds United cannot afford to play both men in the same starting line-up and one is streets ahead of the other.
Leeds United’s recent struggles continued as they lost 1-0 to Reading on Saturday, and the same issue reared its head with play-makers Samu Saiz and Pablo Hernandez struggling to play in the same team.
The truth is, it was Hernandez that struggled, with summer signing Saiz one of the few impressive Whites players on another disappointing day.
It is becoming a common thread for Leeds fans to praise Saiz while bemoaning so many of his teammates, and against the Royals there was yet more proof – as if it was needed – that Thomas Christiansen’s decision to pick both Spaniards simply does not work.
The Leeds manager cannot keep watching the same problems and ignore the obvious solutions, and yet that is exactly what seems to be happening.
As good as Hernandez was last season at Elland Road, he has been found out this time round, and Saiz is considerably better in all areas of his game.
The risk of playing both should be considerably less at home, where Leeds will be expected to boss games more often than not. Yet that is not having the desired effect, with a late Reading goal condemning the Whites to their third straight defeat just when they needed an upturn in form.
Hernandez needs to be dropped, and Saiz should be allowed to do what he does best week in, week out with more steel alongside him.
It is the only way for Leeds to get back on track. The question is: How long before Christiansen realises that?
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