Crossing the divide
As the teams lined up in the tunnel before the game, there were the usual reunions as old friends got reacquainted. Hakim Ziyech was very familiar with Leeds United’s Dutch contingent.
Pascal Struijk was approached for an embrace before Crysencio Summerville then grabbed Ziyech on the walk out to the dugouts.
Roca pulls the strings
Marc Roca is growing into his role as chief string-puller from deep in the Leeds side. The Spaniard’s progressive passing has caught the eye in the opening weeks.
READ MORE: Every word Jesse Marsch said on Leeds United's win, Rodrigo, Tyler Adams, Thomas Tuchel claim
However, the former Bayern Munich man could be seen orchestrating the game in a different way in the 19th minute. As Illan Meslier readied himself to restart the game from his hands, Roca held his hands up to attack and defence, calling for a pause.
With the team needing a breather and a reset, Roca was the man to hold the restart and call for everyone to wait.
Aaronson turns to the Norman Hunter Stand
In the 21st minute, after another example of United’s excellent counter-pressing, Brenden Aaronson turned to the Norman Hunter Stand and gave them the fist pump to get the noise going again. Kalidou Koulibaly had been pushed into ceding possession and the American called on the South Stand to rally the troops.
Rodrigo the leader
The Premier League’s top goalscorer was given the armband from the start on Sunday. The confidence has been there for the Spain international given the start he made, but he took the bull by the horns at Elland Road.
After another of the team’s successful pressures in front of the John Charles Stand, Rodrigo turned and gave the fans a double fist-pump before shouting “come on.” He’s thriving right now.
Diamond instructions
Jesse Marsch spent a spell in the second half with hand gestures to the pitch. Holding his index fingers and thumbs together, he made, what with hindsight was clearly, a diamond shape.
At the time it seemed a little more open to interpretation, but he would later explain what the signal meant. He said: “That was to go to a diamond we went to a diamond against the ball.
“I'm building more hand signals with them. I tried not to overcomplicate things, but we can communicate because it's hard to communicate it in our stadium, it's so loud and most stadiums in this league.
“So we're trying, as we build match plans, to also build these messaging systems so everybody knows if we change from a system to another, if we change how we're going to press or how we're going to play, we can make a few hand signals and everybody's clear.”
READ NEXT:
Thomas Tuchel attacks any notion Leeds United's style delivered his Chelsea side's hammering
Leeds United player ratings as Aaronson, Adams and Koch shine in Chelsea demolition
Jack Harrison reveals the tactical masterplan Jesse Marsch devised for Chelsea win
Give us your player ratings as Leeds United trash Chelsea at Elland Road
Leeds United winners and losers as Jesse Marsch's Whites stun Chelsea at Elland Road
