If you were to list the biggest problems at Leeds United, set-pieces would be right up there, in both an attacking and defensive sense.
Indeed, the Whites haven’t scored a direct header from a corner in over a year, while 41 per cent of the goals they’ve conceded this term have come from dead-ball situations.
It’s frustrating to watch the Yorkshire club falter week after week from corners, but that isn’t even the most concerning thing.
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The most annoying thing about it is this is an area that Marcelo Bielsa highlighted as an area to improve over three months ago, and no progress has been made on that front at all.
Indeed, Adam Pope tweeted in late October that the manager was looking to improve the Whites’ record when attacking corners, and it simply hasn’t happened.
Aside from the one short corner they scored from against Middlesbrough, the tactics haven’t changed much at all – balls are still just being whipped into the box with pace, and that hasn’t worked. They’ve not found the back of the net from this type of set-piece since February 2nd 2019.
You have to wonder what Bielsa has been doing in training, because it isn’t paying off, and that’s deeply concerning. Perhaps this is one area of the game that the Argentine doesn’t have a firm grasp on.
Set-pieces can be coached, Liverpool have had great success since hiring Thomas Gronnemark, channelling Trent Alexander-Arnold’s ability to cross with the height of Virgil van Dijk. Maybe it’s time for Leeds to bring someone in who can teach their squad how to score from these situations.
In other news, Leeds may take some comfort from the xG table after Saturday’s loss.
