Leeds beat League Two side Forest Green on Tuesday night.
Former Leeds United star Carlton Palmer has told Proper Sport that Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play mirrored that of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, following the Whites’ narrow win over Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.
Leeds began Bielsa’s reign with a winning start, earning a 2-1 victory over League Two side Rovers at New Lawn thanks to goals from Kemar Roofe and Luke Ayling – while Dayle Grubb got a consolation for Mark Cooper’s side.
Roofe took advantage of some lackadaisical defending in the Leeds box to fire home, before Leeds doubled their lead with a well-worked goal that was well-finished by Ayling on the overlap.
Leeds fielded a side that looked like a 4-1-4-1, mirroring City’s system that won the Premier League last term and Palmer reckons Leeds fans will see comparisons between Bielsa’s side and Guardiola’s men following the pre-season win.
“You will see a lot of similarities with how Manchester City play and how Pep Guardiola sets his teams out,” Palmer said. “Pep took a lot of how he plays from the current Leeds United manager.
“They will play attacking football, they will try and go at teams. They have some decent players at the club, they have some very good young players at the club and you have to give these boys the opportunity.”
Kalvin Phillips was the surprise midfielder to sit in the holding-midfield role, which saw him fill in at centre-back at times while Adam Forshaw and Samu Saiz sat in front of the Thorp Arch academy product.
Leeds now travel to neighbours York City on Thursday afternoon before facing Oxford United, feeder club Guiseley and Spanish side Las Palmas before August 5th’s opener against Stoke City.
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