Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa subbed Kalvin Phillips after 28 minutes last night.
Many Leeds United fans on Twitter are firmly behind Marcelo Bielsa’s decision to substitute Kalvin Phillips on Tuesday night.
Bielsa withdrew Phillips – who had been booked – on 28 minutes of Leeds’ 2-2 draw at Swansea City and replaced him with Lewis Baker. The 22-year-old was getting overrun in midfield and that, combined with his yellow card, prompted the Argentine coach to make a big call.
Bielsa, whose side were 1-0 down at the time of the decision, told Leeds Live at full-time: “He was almost our third centre-back. He had to face Celina, who was a player who created a lack of balance and he got booked very soon.
“The development of the game after Phillips got booked didn’t offer the defensive security we needed, which allowed us to think that Phillips wouldn’t get booked again. Facing this possibility I chose to change him.”
Given Phillips had been exceptional in the Whites’ three other Championship outings this season, taking him off within half-an-hour for tactical reason was a very bold move.
But it paid off and United went on to win a hard-fought point – which took them to the top of the Championship – by twice coming from behind. First through Kemar Roofe and then Pablo Hernandez.
And a lot of Leeds fans on Twitter have praised the 63-year-old’s guts to haul off under-performing players.
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