Former Leeds United star Andy Ritchie believes Kyle Bartley was fantastic during the victory over Barnsley last weekend. Bartley was reunited with his former Swansea City manager Garry Monk in the summer, leaving the Premier League for the Championship.
Writing in the YEP, Ritchie said Bartley’s central defence partner Pontus Jansson has received most of the praise this season following his loan move from Torino, but he thinks last Saturday former Arsenal player Bartley was the better of the pair.
Ritchie said Bartley was one of the reasons for Leeds United’s 2-1 win after scoring the opening goal, and keeping things tight at the back.
“Pontus Jansson is getting a lot of plaudits for his performances at Leeds United, but I have got to say that Kyle Bartley has also been fantastic – and for me, he outshone Jansson in the Barnsley game last weekend. I thought that Bartley was great all day. And at the end, he really kept it together in getting his head on everything and was marshalling everyone for me,” said Ritchie.
Bartley has forged a blossoming partnership along with fellow summer arrival Pontus Jansson in the centre of defence. Leeds United have conceded just three goals in the last five games, and with Chris Wood in goalscoring form Monk’s team have propelled themselves up the league table.
