Here are the latest Leeds United evening headlines on Friday, 25 January 2022.
Mills’ Raphinha verdict
Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills believes Raphinha’s attacking threat is being reduced by what Marcelo Bielsa is asking him to do defensively.
The Brazilian has not been at his best for the Whites in recent weeks and was even dropped to the bench for the game against Manchester United on Sunday.
His drop in form has coincided with a real downturn in results for Leeds on the whole and Mills thinks that he is being asked to do too much work off the ball, which is having a negative impact on his attacking output.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “The big problem you have is that Leeds United play man-to-man.
“You have to do a lot of work off the ball, and if you don’t do that work – you’re in trouble.
“ Raphinha is a creative player, really, and that’s not really part of his game. Everyone has to work hard in order to have a place in that team.
“By making him do certain things, Bielsa is taking away so much of what is good about his game – and this is the issue I have with it.
“It’s all about getting the best out of your players, not just saying ‘we’re playing this way no matter what’.”
Team news
Marcelo Bielsa has issued updates on the fitness of a number of players ahead of Leeds United’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow.
Bielsa confirmed that both Robin Koch and Diego Llorente will be available again, however updates regarding Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford were not as positive.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: "There's not a fixed date [for their return].
"The prediction that they were going to be available early March and how they are right now, that doesn't seem like it will be the case.
"No, he's [Bamford] not on the grass and probably we will see him before the end of the season."
Spurs injury blow
Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has confirmed Rodrigo Bentancur will miss tomorrow’s trip to Leeds United.
Bentancur has started each of Tottenham’s last three Premier League matches but is set to be absent against the Whites after picking up an ankle injury in the 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Wednesday.
With Oliver Skipp also missing for Spurs, Conte faces a selection dilemma in his midfield with two of his key players unavailable.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, he said: "Unfortunately he's (Bentancur) not available for tomorrow's game. He had a problem in his ankle.
"I don't think this is a serious problem. I hope to see him in the team very soon but for sure he's not available tomorrow.
"No this is another problem. I hope the medical department help me.
"Skipp is now one month missing. Same with Tanganga. I don't want to put pressure on the medical department but for sure I need help with the situation."
