Rules change by the year in the Premier League and not always, it feels, like it’s in favour of your club, but one such switch this season is of huge benefit to Leeds United. Jesse Marsch has been effusive in his praise of the move from the top flight to allow five substitutes in a game.
As footballers are expected to play more and more matches across a calendar year for their clubs and countries, head coaches have called louder and louder for more protection or even less football. One compromise from decision-makers has been the return of five substitutions, which initially came in during the Covid-affected 2020/21 campaign.
Marsch took full advantage on Saturday at the first opportunity with four changes made at Elland Road in the win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. While Rodrigo and Marc Roca were taken off for seemingly more tactical reasons, Marsch then had the freedom to rest Patrick Bamford and Brenden Aaronson in the latter stages of the game.
