Leeds United 1 (Raphinha 26′) Leicester City 1 (Barnes 28′)
ELLAND ROAD — Traumatic does not begin to do justice to Adam Forshaw’s plight which robbed him of two seasons of his career when he should have been enjoying his prime years.
At the start of Leeds United’s promotion-winning 2019-20 campaign, the former Middlesbrough midfielder was struck down by a serious hip injury which required numerous surgeries.
He subsequently missed the entirety of their Premier League return last term and, given the complexity of his injury, there were doubts about whether the popular Liverpudlian would play at the highest level again.
It took rare fortitude to keep treading the gruelling road to recovery after numerous setbacks which might have prompted him to call it a day.
Against Leicester, Forshaw made his first league start since September 2019 and proved that he has still has all the qualities required for a Marcelo Bielsa player; stamina, skill and work-rate in abundance.
The 30-year-old, who was withdrawn in the 90th minute to a standing ovation, said of his two-year injury ordeal: “It’s been horrific, I won’t lie.
“It started off with a muscle injury and we tried and tried everything for four or five months. Unfortunately I had to go for a number of surgeries but I just kept plugging away and rehabbing despite setback after setback.
“Eventually I got there but the physios and staff helped to get me back on the pitch and I’m grateful for that. I’ve been symptom-free for a long time and felt really good out there today.”
Forshaw was selected to start ahead of Mateusz Klich and helped Leeds to largely dominate an exhilaratingly high-tempo encounter.
After a decidedly mixed start to their fourth season under Bielsa, Leeds showed plenty of signs of their old selves here in front of a typically raucous Elland Road crowd.
Raphinha scored his fifth goal of the campaign in the 26th minute with a dangerous whipped free-kick which flew through a thicket of bodies and past Kasper Schmeichel.
Two minutes later, though, Leicester drew level when Harvey Barnes showed delightful skill to engineer the space to curl in a brilliant right-foot shot into the far corner.
Chances continued to proliferate, largely in front of Schmeichel’s goal, as Leeds had 18 shots to Leicester’s nine and enjoyed 56 per cent of possession. For all their neat approach play, Leeds continue to lack a killer touch and Patrick Bamford’s return after injury cannot come soon enough.
As Leeds poured forward in the second half, the winning goal the home crowd so desperately craved did not materialise.
Jack Harrison was unable to bundle home a corner from two yards out in the second half, to the disbelief of the Leeds followers behind Schmeichel’s goal.
Dan James also blazed over the crossbar and Rodrigo volleyed wide when he might have scored, while Raphinha fired into the Kop after his first effort was blocked.
Why Leeds should be worried about losing Raphinha
By Daniel Storey, i chief football writer
Much, much better. Leeds equalled their best shots tally in a match so far this season and did so against a progressive Leicester team. They were again indebted to Raphinha’s brilliance, and there will be some regret that one point was not three given the balance of play, but Bielsa must be happy at the response over the last fortnight.
But where would Leeds be without their brilliant Brazilian? And, more to the point, why would the biggest clubs in Europe not be queuing up to whisper sweet nothings in his – or his agent’s – ear ahead of the January transfer window?
There is not a squad in Europe that would not be improved by having Raphinha as a part of it. Leeds would surely do all they can to keep him (and it would take a ridiculous offer to countenance letting him leave in the winter window) but Champions League knockout football is a huge draw to players. Even ardent Leeds supporters would struggle to suggest that he has not earned it.
This is an extract of The Score, Daniel Storey’s weekly verdict on all 20 Premier League teams’ performances. Sign up to receive the newsletter on Monday mornings here
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3H3Wcra
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