Pablo Hernandez struggled for Leeds United on Friday.
Noel Whelan has suggested that Leeds United are far too dependent on Pablo Hernandez.
The Spanish maestro missed a penalty in Friday’s crushing 2-1 home defeat by Wigan Athletic, who had 10 men for 75 minutes.
Hernandez, easily Leeds, best player this season, did not look his usual self and Whelan has suggested to BBC West Yorkshire Sport that if he doesn’t play well, neither do the Whites.
He said: “I don’t think he was at it today. I’ve always said that when Pablo’s at it, we’re at it. And he just wasn’t the same player today.
“That Pablo Hernandez who dictates the game and finds those passes, takes on teams and can single-handedly win a game with a pass and a goal, and that special quality he possesses, today it didn’t happen for him.
“But when it doesn’t happen for that one player, someone else has got to step up, and no one really did.”
The former Swansea playmaker has 12 goals and 12 assists for Marcelo Bielsa’s side this season. He still saw plenty of the ball after his first-half penalty miss yesterday, but he didn’t look like he had the confidence to do anything with it and that is a big concern.
Leeds slipped out of the automatic promotion places as a result of the defeat and, with three Championship games left, United, behind Sheffield United on goal difference, can’t afford Hernandez to suffer a bad spell now.
They need him at the top of his game and hopefully Monday’s trip to Brentford will bring about a return to form.
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