Speaking on his Podcast, Phil Hay has been discussing Adam Forshaw and how the midfielder used to be viewed by Marcelo Bielsa.
The defensive midfielder has been nothing more than a fringe player for Leeds since Jesse Marsch’s arrival at Elland Road, while injuries have limited him to just three league appearances this season.
However, before injuries took hold, Forshaw was incredibly highly-rated at Leeds.
Indeed, according to Hay, Marcelo Bielsa used to genuinely claim that the midfielder was tailor-made to play in a Champions League team due to the fact he can do the simple things to a good and consistent level.
Forshaw Champions League ready
Hay shared what he heard about Bielsa’s view of Forshaw.
“I remember someone saying to me genuinely, and I’m sure this is true, Bielsa used to say that Adam Forshaw when he is 100 per cent fit is tailor-made for a Champions League team because the things Forshaw does well are exactly what you want around players with huge amounts of flair and talents and everything else. Bielsa didn’t tend to say these things on a whim,” Hay said.
What did he see?
It’s hard to argue that Forshaw is a Champions League player. After all, he’s spent the vast majority of his career in the Championship. However, it’s also difficult to disagree with Marcelo Bielsa when it comes to judging a footballer.
Forshaw must’ve been showing something incredible in training at Leeds United, because his first-team performances weren’t necessarily indicative of a player who should be playing Champions League football.
Although, as Hay says, sometimes an elite team needs this ‘water carrier’ type player, and Forshaw does fit that mould to a tee.
Perhaps the Leeds midfielder would’ve been brilliant for a Champions League team, but it looks as though we will never know.
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