Jamie Carragher hails Leeds player who has been a ‘revelation’ under Bielsa

Follow us on Google Discover

Jamie Carragher thinks Kalvin Phillps has been a ‘revelation’ for Leeds United and praised the qualities he has as a sitting midfielder, as he told Sky Sports Football (08/09/20 7:25 pm).

The former Premier League centre-back thinks Phillips has the ‘passing range’, the ability to ‘get on the ball’ and the ability to ‘sense danger’ to play that number six role in the middle of the park.

Phillips originally saw himself as a more advanced midfield player, but the eagle eyes of Marcelo Bielsa saw something different and he decided that he needed to sit much deeper on the pitch.

It has worked out a treat for the now dubbed ‘Yorkshire Pirlo’, who will come up against Carragher’s former team Liverpool at the weekend.

“I think he has been a revelation for Leeds,” Carragher told Sky Sports. ”Certainly more so since Bielsa came in and changed his role to this sitting midfield player.

“I think he has a lot of attributes that you need in the holding midfield position. To play at this level in terms of his passing range, getting on the ball and he also sees danger.

“That’s why his manager at club level wants him in that position.”

Phillips made his England debut on Tuesday and helped Gareth Southgate’s side secure a clean sheet against Denmark in the UEFA Nations League.

Whilst England lacked creativity in possession, it wasn’t the fault of Phillips because Southgate opted to play the Leeds man alongside Declan Rice, who has similar qualities to the newly-promoted player.

In order for Phillips to perform at his best on the international stage, he is best suited to being used as a single pivot where he can control the situation a lot more, protect those behind him and get the best out of the more attack-minded flair players.