Leeds assistant Pep Clotet has commented on playmaker Pablo Hernandez.
Garry Monk and assistant manager Josep Clotet (L)
Leeds United assistant manager Pep Clotet has told Spanish newspaper Marca that the club wanted Pablo Hernandez to be the clever head in the final third.
The Whites have enjoyed a fine season under Garry Monk, and whilst recent results have been patchy with three wins in the last seven games, Leeds remain on course for a play-off place.
Monk has impressed so far at Elland Road, and he certainly deserves praise for the signings he has brought into the club since arriving as manager last summer.
Goalkeeper Robert Green has been solid between the sticks, centre backs Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley have emerged as one of the top partnerships in the Championship and full back Luke Ayling has been one of the unsung heroes of the season having joined from Bristol City last summer.
Add in that Eunan O’Kane, Hadi Sacko and Kemar Roofe have all been regulars, and Monk deserves huge credit, with Pablo Hernandez also playing a key role under his former boss.
Ex-Spain international Hernandez worked with Monk at Swansea, and they reunited as the playmaker penned a loan deal from Al-Arabi before making his move permanent in January.
Pablo Hernandez celebrates scoring for Leeds United
Th 31-year-old has hit four goals and seven assists in an impressive campaign so far, and Leeds assistant and fellow Spaniard Pep Clotet has told Marca about the midfielder’s arrival at the club.
Clotet highlighted that Leeds wanted to bring in quality players with great character too, and Hernandez was a top target because Leeds saw him as being the key figure to link the attack, anticipating that he would make a big impact in the Championship.
“As we wanted the team to have the capacity for maximum delivery, we knew we had to bring players with personality that could work together,” said Clotet. “There are many footballers with quality, but it was more important to know that the ones who came understood this message.”
“We wanted him to be the clever head, the organizing figure of the attack. We knew he could make a big difference in the Championship,” he added.
Have you been impressed with Hernandez’s performances this season?
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