Ronaldo Vieira was an unused substitute in Leeds United’s defeat to Millwall at The Den on Saturday.
Noel Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that it was possibly a mistake for Thomas Christiansen to leave Ronaldo Vieira out of the Leeds side that took on Millwall at The Den on Saturday.
Leeds suffered their first defeat of the season as the Lions claimed a 1-0 win on a day where the Whites did little that suggested that they were about to extend their unbeaten run.
One of the main issues appeared to be Millwall’s players having a greater desire during the contest. And Whelan has suggested that picking Vieira – who was an unused substitute during the game – over either O’Kane or Phillips may have been a smart move from Christiansen.
“I do think this game probably would have suited Vieira,” he told BBC Radio Leeds.
“I think the way he plays and the way he gets about people and the aggressive style that he likes to play, that could have been more effective for Leeds but it is what it is.
“It’s not just down to Kalvin Phillips or Eunan O’Kane, a lot of players weren’t aggressive enough today, I’ll probably go and say everybody [was not aggressive enough].”
As Whelan seems to hint – by not exactly criticising Christiansen’s selection – there was little reason going into the contest to suspect that O’Kane and Phillips would not have been able to shine in what promised to be a difficult game, as their partnership has been exceptional for much of the campaign so far, and a key reason why Leeds found themselves top of the Championship going into the clash.
But after the pair failed to stamp an authority on the clash like they have done on a few occasions this season, perhaps Christiansen will consider using Vieira more often during the coming weeks as Leeds look to bounce back from their first setback of the campaign.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
