‘I am a complete player’: Pascal Struijk offers Marcelo Bielsa food for thought over rare Leeds United role

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Leeds United defender Pascal Struijk has offered Marcelo Bielsa food for thought after telling De Telegraaf that he is happy to play in midfield when needed.

Struijk was not one of the first names on Bielsa’s teamsheet at the start of the Premier League season, but has established a key role for himself since December and is rarely left on the sidelines.

The 21-year-old has failed to feature in just two of the Whites’ last 22 top-flight fixtures, and displayed his versatility by stepping out of the backline to anchor the engine room on four occasions while scoring his sole goal of the term away to Arsenal from the position.

Leeds were unable to win any of their meetings with Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Arsenal or Aston Villa while Struijk featured in the holding midfield role, but did beat Dean Smith’s Villans 3-0 at Villa Park earlier in the campaign before losing at Crystal Palace.

Yet results have not swayed Struijk’s confidence, as the former Netherlands U17 international has lauded his talents and ability to operate outside of his natural position.

“I know that the position where I play [in central defence] is a very interesting one in today’s football. I think I am a complete player: physically strong and good on the ball,” the £7,000-per-week (Spotrac) enforcer said.

“In addition, I can also work in midfield. At Leeds, I have played in the number six position several times this season. So, I can be deployed in multiple positions and in multiple systems.”

TBR’s view:

Bielsa has clearly seen some potential in Struijk to deploy him in midfield at times since guiding Leeds into the Premier League, but the defender’s confidence in his ability will offer the Argentine food for thought given the lack of positive results secured so far.

The experiment of deploying Struijk in the role usually occupied by Kalvin Phillips did not work to much clamour against Arsenal in February, despite his goal, as Struijk muddled through the affair and occasionally restricted the Whites’ passing lanes out from the back.

Struijk endured a poor afternoon against Crystal Palace earlier in the campaign when caught out of position too often and sought to play safe whenever possible, as well, and even his most promising performance against Aston Villa was cut short early in the second half.

So, while Struijk is confident in his ability and Bielsa has shown some support to fielding the Belgian-born enforcer in a higher position, the Leeds boss still has food for thought over unleashing him there again anytime soon.