‘A different player’: Nani raves about £14m man who would’ve been Leeds’ new Phillips

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It’s hard to imagine Leeds United conceding eight goals in their last two matches with Joao Palhinha patrolling the edge of the penalty area.

In the absence of Kalvin ‘the Yorkshire Pirlo’ Phillips, Marcelo Bielsa’s side have suffered their most chastening results since returning to the Premier League as Leicester City and Crystal Palace ran riot before the international break.

Pascal Struijk is highly rated at Thorpe Arch but the former Ajax youngster struggled to replace the irreplaceable, as Phillips nursed a dislocated shoulder.

Well, we say ‘irreplaceable’.

Leeds made an enquiry about Palhinha in September, according to The Mirror (6.9.2020, page 68), before the Sporting Lisbon ace signed a new contract at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

And while he might lack Phillips’ pinpoint passing range, Palhinha is the sort of belligerent ball-winner who would have offered some much-needed protection to a vulnerable Leeds back line shorn of the protection Phillips provides.

So far in 2020/21, Palhinha has averaged 3.4 tackles per game (the same as Phillips) and 1.2 interceptions.

An average of 2.6 fouls committed per 90 minutes might hint at a clumsy side to his game but, if those 4-1 defeats to Leicester and Palace proved anything, it’s that Leeds could benefit from developing a cynical streak.

The phrase ‘tactical fouls’ would make a purist like Bielsa shudder but his protégé Pep Guardiola has embraced the tactic with both hands – often to great effect.

“We must give credit to the coach (Ruben Amorim),” former Manchester United and Sporting winger Nani tells Antena1, via Bancada with the Lisbon giants four points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga.

“I make a positive analysis of Palhinha. He was a player who, in my day, didn’t seem capable of putting two passes together. He went to SC Braga (on loan last season) and now he’s a different player.

“He’s aggressive and gives security to the midfield. He recovers possession.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers were close to agreeing a £14 million deal of their own for Palhinha at the start of the summer (O Jogo).

But Sporting’s decision to hand their late-blooming midfielder a new start after a year away at Braga may be the difference between another top-four finish and a first league title since 2002.