Worry about Leeds United’s lack of new signings and then worry about how Marcelo Bielsa is going to fit said new signings into his team. There is always something to question, speculate on and have concerns about in football. The merry-go-round never stops. Even before Daniel James had been announced as a Leeds player, the squad charts and tactic boards were out to assess how he fits into this Bielsa side.
Marcelo Bielsa said: “In a league as long and demanding as the Premier League, everyone will get the chance to show their qualities and contribute.
When Bielsa faces the media in the days before the Liverpool match, you can expect him to strike a similar tone when he’s asked about how he fits in the attacking talent he has. There have been clues from Bielsa on how Raphinha’s role could change in the long-term, thereby opening a slot on the right for James or Harrison. In the first press conference after the Brazilian arrived last season, Bielsa reiterated the former Rennes man was a winger, but may have a long-term future through the centre.
Marcelo Bielsa said: “He’s an additional alternative to the right-wing position, left-wing position and eventually to the central, offensive midfield position. Fundamentally, he’s a winger who can play on the right or left-hand side.”
On that basis there may be a way of slipping Raphinha inside, behind Patrick Bamford, to make space for James on the flank. However, enlightening as that observation was from Bielsa, he addressed it again a few weeks later, ahead of the November trip to Crystal Palace.
Marcelo Bielsa added: “You told us a few weeks ago Raphinha could eventually be an option as a number 10. How long a process is that and can you give us any insight into what he would need to do in order to be playing that role for you?”
Bielsa’s tone had changed in the intervening weeks.
Marcelo Bielsa said: “He fundamentally plays on either wing,” he said. “He is a player who is naturally very attacking with ability to get in behind, with dribbling skills and he likes to get in behind. The virtue is to attack and these skills are applicable out wide as well as in the centre. I won’t say I won’t use him in any other position, but I fundamentally see him as a player who can play on either wing. He has played in the centre as a striker and as an attacking midfielder, but he arrived in our team to be an alternative on the wings.”
It’s next to impossible trying to second-guess Bielsa, but it has been nearly 10 months since those comments on Raphinha’s role.
