What a difference one year makes
Twelve months ago, Leeds United were licking their wounds after a second consecutive pasting at Old Trafford. It was not the manner in which a Whites side, which ended 2020/21 in top-four form, wanted to start a campaign with.
The opposition and location on that opening day in 2021 masked the problems which would ultimately come out over the following six months for Leeds. An opening-day loss turned into a two-month wait for a Premier League win and, eventually, a bitter relegation scrap.
Yesterday could not have left onlookers feeling any more different. Straight away, the pressure balloon is popped and everyone can relax about how long that first win will take to come this time around.
READ MORE: Meslier fills Phillips void, Marsch-Struijk alert, Drameh homecoming in Leeds United moments missed
It was not a perfect performance, but how often can any fan say they get those from their team? As we always say, a win is a win and it just means that pre-season optimism can be allowed to swell for another week before Southampton away.
A victory means the narrative around Jesse Marsch does not immediately pivot back to some of the dire, pragmatic football Leeds employed down the run-in last season. That’s important and gives the American some breathing space.
Marsch has confidence in his own abilities, the players trust in the process under him and the boardroom believes they have the right man for the job. However, points are paramount and whatever the feeling may be inside the club, the support needs to see results and have something they can believe in moving forward.
The win gives them that and pushes any negativity about last season even further into the recesses of their memory. Even if the next couple of games were to go against them, they immediately have a tangible, shared experience of what it takes to win in the Premier League now.
The full debuts
The soft launches of Rasmus Kristensen, Tyler Adams, Marc Roca and Brenden Aaronson in Leeds white had come during pre-season, but this was the first match the record books will care about. Each of the quartet had their part to play in the opening-day win too.
Aaronson, of course, has generated the most headlines. The American was superb and arguably United’s man of the match on the day. He thoroughly deserved his goal that never was, but being in the right place at almost the right time will have to make do.
The 21-year-old had a major role in United’s equaliser too. By being the persistent pest he is without the ball, Aaronson pinched possession back for Leeds in the Wolverhampton Wanderers box, fed Jack Harrison, who then lined up Rodrigo for the goal.
You can see exactly why Aaronson suits this tactical style so well. His close control and work off Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo and Harrison at close quarters was superb at times.
Kristensen was partly culpable for the opening goal. Neither the Dane’s body shape nor positioning was ideal as Wolves attacked the space behind him as he yielded Pedro Neto the advantage.
To then see the attacker outmuscle Kristensen was remarkable given how strong we know the right-back is. This was not the only time Neto tied him up in knots either. He was by no means a disaster, but there was clear room for improvement from the full-back.
In the engine room, Roca and Adams were solid. The former started the better, but faded quite badly into the second half, while Adams seemed to improve as the game wore on.
Roca’s tackling and passing were superb and responsible, along with Aaronson, for getting Leeds going after their early concession. Adams also picked a pocket in the lead-up to the Leeds winner, underlining his capabilities as a midfield disruptor.
Klich’s resurgence
Mateusz Klich’s become one of the stories of the summer at Elland Road. As one of those players at the very heart of what was achieved under Marcelo Bielsa, Klich holds a special place in many Leeds hearts.
While the 32-year-old’s slide down the pecking order is understandable, it’s not easy to come to terms with the possibility the Pole may be nearing the end of his line with United. Marsch’s weekend comments illustrated how up in the air the midfielder’s future is.
And then, he comes on and changes the game in United’s favour on Saturday. Klich rolled back the years with the kind of poise, class, work rate and composure we remember so well from his peak days under Bielsa.
The killer ball in behind for Bamford to latch onto before feeding Rayan Ait-Nouri for the winning own goal was sumptuous. After the game, Marsch was pushed on the reality of seeing a potential game-changer from the bench leave the club.
The head coach remained non-committal on what may happen to Klich before September 1, but he admitted their relationship had not always been easy. Marsch respects Klich’s honesty in always speaking his mind, but that has meant disagreements have been had behind closed doors.
Losing Klich from a fully-fit Leeds squad would be a fairly amenable outcome for most, but when you have seven players absent and Klich standing head and shoulders above the rest of the bench in experience, it does pose a dilemma for the club.
Wolves spats continue
Diving, time-wasting and feigned injuries happen across the football spectrum, but it always just seems to be that much worse with Wolves. As far back as the Championship days, Wolves have been renowned for their capacity to hit the deck.
If they are ahead or level in games, do not underestimate their ability to cry, whine and find the nearest patch of grass possible to writhe around on. Hwang Hee-chan deserved the Oscar on Saturday.
After a glance of a palm to the side of his head, the South Korean threw himself to the floor in front of the Leeds dugout with both hands fully outstretched across his entire face. He would stay down for at least 45 seconds while the entire stadium berated him.
It is incidents like this which visibly angered the Leeds bench too and prompted what Bruno Lage considered to be unacceptable pitchside comments from Marsch. The needle was evident at the full-time whistle as Lage made for the tunnel too. Even Marsch admitted it’s a fractious relationship which stretches back to the Molineux visit of the spring.
READ NEXT:
Brenden Aaronson's reaction to being denied Leeds United debut winner by Premier League
Every word Jesse Marsch said on Bruno Lage disagreement, Klich and Leeds United's Wolves win
Leeds United fans send message to Mateusz Klich after his game-changing introduction vs Wolves
Leeds United player ratings as Rodrigo and Brenden Aaronson deliver Wolves win
