Marcelo Bielsa has admitted that he believes Mateusz Klich played a ‘level below’ his usual standard in Leeds United’s drubbing by Leicester City earlier this week.
With Kalvin Phillips absent, the Poland international took up a slightly deeper midfield role as Leeds were thumped 4-1 by the Foxes at Elland Road on Monday night.
Klich, a £1.5 million signing by Leeds in 2017, played a more advanced position in the demolition away to Aston Villa a couple of weeks ago.
And Bielsa, speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash with Crystal Palace, has told Leeds Live that the 30-year-old was a lot more influential against the Villans.
He said: “Against Leicester, Klich played below the level he had played against Aston Villa and in this game he played below the level within a team which didn’t play well.”
It’ll be interesting to see where Klich lines up at Selhurst Park.
Bielsa is still without Phillips and he took Pascal Struijk off in the first half at Villa Park last month.
Unless the Leeds boss recalls young Struijk to the first XI then it seems possible that Klich will continue in the role that his coach claims he was rather sub-par in last time out.
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