The Elland Road crowd took their opportunity to voice their disappointment in Leeds United’s final home game of last season as a Rodrigo pass rolled dead. The Spain international cut a frustrated figure in that clash with Brighton and after a difficult campaign in white, his confidence appeared to hit a new low.
He scored six goals throughout the course of the season, but he struggled at times and that outing against Brighton and Hove Albion sent him into an uncertain off-season. However, after scoring five goals in five friendly appearances this summer, including Sunday night’s hat-trick against Cagliari, it seems Rodrigo has left his 2021-22 form in the rear view mirror.
The forward has been one of Jesse Marsch’s stars of the summer and he enters the new season in devastating form, having done more than enough to secure his spot in the side for the opening day clash against Wolves on Saturday. Rodrigo sent out an encouraging message by scoring in the club’s win over Blackpool at the start of the July and he doubled his summer account by burying a penalty against Crystal Palace at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
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He completed his preparations for the new term in style on Sunday night, though, bringing the Elland Road crowd to their feet as he scored three goals against Serie B opposition. The 31-year-old will, of course, be judged by his performances when the real stuff gets underway this weekend, but on Sunday he laid down a marker for himself to build on moving forward.
He was a lively presence from the off against Cagliari, latching onto passes in dangerous areas, showing great movement and attempting to thread Patrick Bamford through the defensive line on a number of occasions. A couple of mistakes came as Leeds pushed for the opener with Rodrigo being guilty of a heavy touch or two and misplacing a pass.
But, his confidence never wavered and when the chance came for him to fire Leeds in front, he did so with aplomb. New addition Rasmus Kristensen was the man who opened the Italians up with a fine pass into the area and Bamford’s touch gave Rodrigo the space required to get a shot off.
The goalkeeper could only watch on as the ball was rifled over his left shoulder and into the back of the net and that gave Marsch’s side the encouragement they needed in the contest. Rodrigo’s movement was notable as the rest of the first half progressed, linking up well with Jack Harrison and Brenden Aaronson, but he had to wait until the second half to get his second of the game.
Starting the move with a lofted pass into Harrison in the area, Rodrigo accelerated around the Cagliari left-back to get himself back on the ball before seeing his low effort cannon off the custodian and into the goal. There was a stroke of fortune in the way the ball hit the net, but he made the effort to carve out the opportunity and he got his reward.
The striker had more opportunities to notch up his third of the contest but he had to wait until the 84th minute of the game to tap Aaronson’s clipped cross home into an empty net. The likes of Aaronson, Harrison, Bamford and Tyler Adams all picked up plenty of praise for their performances at Elland Road, but Rodrigo was Leeds’ chief attacking threat and he was certainly good value for his hat-trick.
“Listen, he’s had a good pre-season and he and I have a good relationship,” Marsch said after the contest. “I think the way we work and talk and the relationship we have has been fun for me.
“It’s not always easy pushing him and he’s very receptive to positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and honesty, the more you give him the more he wants and I like guys like that. It’s really pleasing to see him play so well, I’m really happy for him and I think he’s growing into the team.”
Ultimately, his performance against Cagliari will be forgotten by full-time on Saturday, with his effort in the Premier League all that realistically counts. But, it seems Rodrigo has done all he can to head into a crucial period in his career on the front foot.
With a spot seemingly secured for the time being, he now has the opportunity to change the opinions of those who criticised him last season and perhaps even work his way back into the international picture ahead of a certain tournament in Qatar in November.
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