Noel Whelan reacts to Leeds’ 3-1 win over Stoke City

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Leeds United kicked off the new Championship season with a clash with Stoke City

Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that he was particularly impressed with both Samuel Saiz and Mateusz Klich during Leeds’ 3-1 opening day win over Stoke City which saw goals from Klich, Pablo Hernandez and Liam Cooper help Marcelo Bielsa kick off his tenure with a win.

It was a stunning first-half performance from the Whites. The home side were clearly up for the clash and took the lead inside 15 minutes as Saiz’s brilliant work on the edge of the box saw the Spaniard create an opening for himself. His blind pass to Klich was sublime and the Poland international marked his return to Leeds with the opening goal of the Bielsa era.

Stoke seemed to wake up following the goal, but Leeds were the ones to finish the half on top. Hernandez found the back of the net from just outside the area. Former Whites loanee Jack Butland made a meal of trying to keep the ball out and it found its way into the bottom corner.

Bielsa would have wanted to see Leeds maintain their performance levels after the break, but Stoke managed to strike the first blow six minutes into the second-half as Benik Afobe coolly scored his penalty after Barry Douglas brought down Tom Ince inside the box.

However, Leeds got back on top and settled the nerves as Liam Cooper headed home shortly before the hour mark to restore the home side’s two goal advantage.

Stoke tried to get the goal that would set up a nervy finish, but Leeds defended resolutely and Bailey Peacock-Farrell made some smart saves as the Whites went on to secure the three points against the side that many expect to win the Championship this season.

And after the game, former Leeds striker Whelan gave his thoughts on the performance and, unsurprisingly, he was full of praise for Bielsa’s side when asked for his man of the match.

“I think everyone was excellent in their positions that they played today. It’s very difficult to choose one player [for man of the match], and that’s the way it should be when you’ve had such a great result. You look at Saiz’s performance in the first 45 minutes, the way he got into those clever little positions in between the lines, turning, very creative, picking out players, his pass for the first goal for Klich – another contender for man of the match, who seemed like a player reborn at Leeds United in this game today. We saw what he’s really capable of,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.