SM
Newcastle vs. West Ham: 11 hrs 35 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Marcelo Bielsa has high hopes that Rodrigo will shine for Leeds this season

:Headline: Marcelo Bielsa has high hopes that Rodrigo will shine for Leeds this season:
The Spain forward impressed Marcelo Bielsa during pre-season.
Sports Mole

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa is convinced club-record signing Rodrigo will soon start to justify his price tag.

Leeds paid Valencia £27million for the Spain forward in August last year before their first season back in the Premier League.

He has yet to establish himself in Bielsa's starting line-up due to injury and a bout of coronavirus and was an unused substitute in Saturday's 2-2 draw against Everton at Elland Road.

"During the week he had a slight muscular issue, from which he recovered quickly," Bielsa said.

“I have a lot of confidence in the qualities of Rodrigo. During the six weeks of pre-season, he's the player who shone the most”
- Marcelo Bielsa

"If that hadn't happened he would have been our offensive midfielder in the game today."

Rodrigo appeared to have put his frustrations behind him with a strong finish  to last season, scoring four goals in Leeds' final four games and was a late call-up for Spain before the Euros.

But he was omitted from Luis Enrique's final squad and although he started in Leeds' opening-day 5-1 defeat at Manchester United, he was withdrawn by Bielsa at half-time.

"I have a lot of confidence in the qualities of Rodrigo," said Bielsa after Raphinha's brilliant equaliser had earned his side a deserved point against Everton.

"During his holidays he did physical work that was very important. During the six weeks of pre-season, he's the player who shone the most in those weeks.

"I have a lot of hopes for him that in this season he is going to show all the qualities he has."

Raphinha (second right) scores Leeds' equaliser in the 2-2 draw at home to Everton.

Leeds hit back twice against Rafael Benitez's Everton. Dominic Calvert-Lewin's penalty, after he had been fouled by Liam Cooper, was cancelled out by Mateusz Klich before half-time.

Everton regained the lead through outstanding summer recruit Demarai Gray before Raphinha raised the roof with a thumping finish.

Winger Gray, a £1.7m signing from Bayer Leverkusen in July, laid on Everton's best scoring chances, but Benitez was careful not to lavish too much praise on the former Birmingham and Leicester man.

"I don't like to talk too much about individuals. I think he's doing well, everybody can see that, he scored a goal," Benitez said.

Rafael Benitez is impressed with the start Demarai Gray has made since his switch from Bayer Leverkusen to Everton.

"The main thing he gives to us is just competition in the wide areas and up front and that is good for the team.

"It is good for him to continue playing at this level and good for the team because they all have to push and do as well as him to be in the team."

Everton, 3-1 winners against Southampton on the opening day, are unbeaten in Benitez's first two league games in charge.

"I'm really pleased because the way we did, obviously in the first game, the reaction of the players and today the way we were pushing and working so hard from the beginning to the end," the Spaniard added.

"In transition we were more dangerous and maybe close to winning the game. Overall, it's fine."

body check tags ::

amp_article__460403 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-08-22 12:52:20:
html db last update - 2021-08-22 12:52:20 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Marcelo Bielsa

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Share this article now:
LU
Read Next:
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa satisfied with a point from 'big test' against Everton
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Marcelo Bielsa Rafael Benitez Football Football Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa satisfied with a point from 'big test' against Everton
Man City 'heavily scouting' injured Palace star as January approach readied
Mbappe, Valverde, Bellingham register as professional Real Madrid overcome Leganes
Back in the game? Leicester 'considering 49-year-old coach' after Cooper exit

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Mbappe, Valverde, Bellingham register as professional Real Madrid overcome Leganes

1

MV

Triple boost? Real Madrid could have three players back vs. Liverpool

2

TB

Monday's Transfer Talk Update: Ferguson, Welbeck, Gomes

3

MT

Monday's Serie A predictions including Empoli vs. Udinese

4

MS

Preview: Barcelona vs. Brest - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PB

Preview: Sheff Utd vs. Oxford Utd - prediction, team news, lineups

6

PS

Preview: Cambridge vs. Bolton - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PC

Preview: Sporting Lisbon vs. Arsenal - prediction, team news, lineups

8

PS

More Estevao wizardry: Chelsea prospect helps send Palmeiras top of Brasileiro

9

ME

Preview: Man City vs. Feyenoord - prediction, team news, lineups

10

PM


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .