Gelhardt and Greenwood’s warm-up
Leeds United’s main fitness concern coming into Saturday’s game at Watford was Joe Gelhardt, who has complained of a back spasm and dead leg in recent weeks. On Monday night, he limped off with an issue during the under-23 match at Elland Road, but was passed fit to be involved in the squad at Vicarage Road.
Despite that delicate preparation period, Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood were happy to go through an especially loose warm-up befofe the real warm-up happened. As the rest of the squad went out to inspect the pitch after arriving, Greenwood was throwing balls high into the air for Gelhardt to jump and head.
It’s certainly one way to check the teenager’s back was ready for action.
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Marsch and Forshaw deep in conversation
Marcelo Bielsa was not one for coming out on the pitch pre-match, let alone chatting with his players individually in front of everyone. Jesse Marsch was out there with the group, but then stood with Adam Forshaw for more than 20 minutes on the field.
The pair were chatting, Marsch later revealed, about the sport, the future and the Leeds plan. They were out there for long after everyone else had returned to the dressing room in what we would later learn was the first clue Forshaw would be missing from the matchday squad.
Klich’s rollicking
Mateusz Klich was in the thick of the more physical aspects in Saturday’s game. He had a running battle with Juraj Kucka throughout the match, but it was a run-in with Joao Pedro which caught the eye.
In the 44th minute, the Watford forward went in for a challenge with Klich and as the Poland international’s arm flung up for balance, he brushed Pedro’s face. The Brazilian went down like he had been chinned by Josh Warrington, but referee Andre Marriner was not in the mood to play that game.
As Klich came back past him he bent down and shouted at the back of Pedro’s head. You would wager he was not saying anything too complimentary.
Raphinha can’t help himself
Raphinha had taken a whack in the 10 minutes before he went off, but seemed to make it off without limping too heavily. The Brazilian couldn’t help himself when Jack Harrison stuck away the third goal, though.
He came straight out of the dugout and jogged over to join the celebrations in front of the away support.
