Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has given his take on Pascal Struijk’s best position, as quoted in Leeds Live.
Struijk has committed his long-term future to Leeds by putting pen to paper on a new three-and-a-half-year deal, as announced by the Premier League club on their official website today.
The 21-year-old can operate as a central defender or as a defensive midfielder and has been on the books of the West Yorkshire club since January 2018 when he joined from Ajax.
Bielsa told Leeds Live when asked about Struijk’s best position: “I think his normal position of left centre-back is the one that is best suited to his characteristics, but a left centre-back, a lot of time during the game, becomes a left full-back and a lot of times he also has to play as a defensive midfielder. He can also play in these two positions.”
An asset for Leeds United
Struijk has done well for Leeds so far this season, playing well in central defence when he has been called into action.
The 21-year-old is still developing and progressing as a footballer, and under Bielsa, the youngster is only going to improve.
According to WhoScored, the youngster has made four appearances in the Premier League so far this season, while during the 2019-20 campaign, he made two starts and three substitute appearances in the Championship for the Whites.
When Liam Cooper, Diego Llorente and Kalvin Phillips are fully fit, available and in form, Struijk would have to settle for a place on the substitutes’ bench, but training with experienced players and under Bielsa is very beneficial for him.
Struijk is a very highly rated young player who has been praised by former Leeds striker Noel Whelan and the club’s fans in the past.
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