Leeds attacker Rodrigo has told BBC Radio Yorkshire that Marcelo Bielsa’s tactics of playing man-to-man proved only hampered the Whites – admitting that Jesse Marsch’s style allows Leeds to play with more energy.
Bielsa was sacked towards the end of February after a dismal run of results – and a huge amount of goals conceded. Since then, American gaffer Marsch has come in and changed the system, playing more zonally in defence.
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He has more structure, but still with the freedom of a Bielsa side in attack. Leeds have suffered losses to Leicester City and Aston Villa, but secured crucial late wins over Norwich City and then Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Speaking out about the difference in style, Spain international Rodrigo – who was signed during Bielsa’s era – believes Bielsa’s man-to-man drained the energy of the Leeds players and affected them going forward.
“We had this one-v-one marking that maybe was penalising us too much, especially in defensive moments because our position is always a function of the opponent,” Rodrigo told the BBC, on Bielsa’s tactics.
“I think now that the methodology, the way of play change, and because everyone is occupying the zone, and share better the spaces in the field. So maybe [it] gives us more energy to defend and to attack as well.”
Rodrigo on Bielsa: Did tactics actually prove ineffective at Leeds?
There is no doubting that Bielsa’s tactics worked wonders in the first three years. It got Leeds into the Championship play-offs, then promoted as Championship winners by some distance. Then, the Premier League.
A ninth-placed finish saw pundits and fans alike name Leeds as their second favourite side. But it all came to a halt this season. Injuries played their part, but Leeds lost the energy and enthusiasm of 2020-21.
They needed to be more reserved but the stubbornness of Bielsa saw the formation remain. Tactics did not change, losses followed and confidence dropped. Marsch has changed the tactics, and re-installed that momentum.
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