Mateusz Klich has been the talk of the Polish media during the current international break. There’s been genuine interest in what Marcelo Bielsa has been passing over to the midfielder at Leeds United, and his start to the season has certainly impressed.
That Klich has been happy to speak about his Elland Road boss, and been glowing with his praise just like his Leeds United teammates also on international duty, has kept the interest, as has disagreement over Klich’s performance against Italy.
Some believe he was tidy and did a job, despite a mistake or two, and others seemed to have been expecting a little too much, possibly because of all the Bielsa talk.
Now Matuesz’s father Wojciech has been speaking to Polish newspaper Wyborcza.
Wojciech Klich was himself a footballer and is now an academy coach. Asked for his own take on the Performance against Italy, he said: “First of all, I was happy. Mateusz’s performance was perhaps not dazzling but decent.
“Errors always happen. Mateusz, however, was active, he tried to play forward, but he also helped defensively.”
Asked on what Klich must improve, the player’s father brought Bielsa into things: “First of all, playing with the head and defensive game, although in this element he improved a lot. And he has to do everything at full speed, on the run. Marcelo Bielsa drums such things into him.”
This is especially interesting, given the Leeds player said himself last week: “Everything I’ve done so far, I use more gas. This was the key attention of the trainer. Everything is fine, I have no problems with the ball, but I have to do everything with greater intensity. And he was right. As the central midfielder I combine attack with defence, I have to be everywhere. Coach Bielsa stresses that there is no reason why one should stop running on the pitch.”
