Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United operated with a man-to-man marking system both from open play and set-pieces. It was a particularly notable feature that players would get extremely tight to their opponents when defending corners and free-kicks, which was often the reason why Leeds were among the worst in the Premier League at stopping them from going in.
Jesse Marsch, though, has adopted a different style to defending them since his arrival, with some players marking man for man, and others zonally. The players making zonally are often the side’s strongest and tallest, as it allows them the time and space to pick out the flight of the ball and attack it.
The likes of Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk and Charlie Creswell have been the ones occupying those positions so far, and it has certainly borne fruit. Leeds have had to deal with 14 corners since Marsch’s arrival at the club but are yet to concede from a single one – highlighting a drastic improvement in such a short space of time.
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On the contrary, Leeds conceded from such situations in three of their last four matches under Bielsa – where either the opposition goalscorer was handed acres space for a free header, or they completely overpowered a Leeds defender before heading in. And while the improvement has so far been there for all to see, Saturday’s match against Southampton is likely to be the biggest acid test yet in that department.
James Ward-Prowse is widely regarded as one of the best set-piece takers in the division. He is equally capable at curling one in from 25 yards out as he is putting it right on the money from a corner kick situation for one of his big centre backs to power home.
In fact, Ward-Prowse has created the most number of chances from dead ball situations in the Premier League this season with 36 and it’s where two of his four assists across the campaign have come from. Leeds will have a big task on their hands defending them this season, but if they come out of it on the other side, then maybe a corner has been turned.
