Kalvin Phillips has told the Daily Mail that Premier League sides have managed to confuse Leeds United this season as the Elland Road outfit are no longer the new kids on the block.
The Whites are enduring a troubled second season back in the top-flight after 16-years out of the division. The West Yorkshire natives stunned the league last term with their brand of high energy, attacking football under Marcelo Bielsa to claim a shock ninth-place finish.
Leeds found another gear after Christmas last year, having spent the festivities in 14th after five wins in 14 games. They ended the campaign with 18 wins and 62 goals, the sixth-most.
This season, however, Leeds have regressed to claim just three wins in 18 and will spend Christmas in 16th. They have also only managed to score 18 goals to 36 conceded already.
Only Newcastle United have allowed more goals than the Whites, with the Toon shipping a league-high 41. Only five teams have scored fewer, as well, with Norwich’s eight the least.
Phillips explains ‘confusion’ at Leeds this season
Injuries to key players have played a key part in the Elland Road outfit’s issues for much of the season. But Phillips also feels opposition sides have now found a way to beat Leeds.
“One of the main things is that we’ve now played every team before,” Phillips said. “We are not new anymore – a lot of teams are coming to us and knowing how to play against us.
“They are changing their formation two or three times every game, and it does cause us disruption in the way we play. There is a bit of confusion.
“We’ve played like this for four-years and I can honestly say we’re not doing as well as last year. But I also think we’ve been quite unlucky. Some games we’ve lost in the dying minutes, we maybe could have dealt with them better.”
Bielsa needs to find a way to bring clarity back to Elland Road
Leeds have lost their last three Premier League games to Chelsea (3-2), Manchester City (7-0) and Arsenal (4-1). Facing those three in quick succession without key players would be a torrid task for most clubs in most seasons.
Jorginho also decided the Chelsea encounter in the third-minute of stoppage-time from the penalty spot for the Blues’ winner. Similarly, Michail Antonio scored in the 90th-minute for West Ham to win 2-1 at Elland Road on September 25.
Leeds also needed a 93rd-minute penalty from Raphinha to take a point against Wolves in October. While Patrick Bamford struck an 86th-minute equaliser against Burnley in August.
Bielsa and Phillips will likely hope Leeds have fewer games decided in the closing stages as they seek survival. They will also no doubt hope Bielsa finds a way to remove the confusion that Phillips notes Premier League sides can now create after learning the way Leeds play.
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