TBR View: Mateusz Klich proving unsung hero in Leeds United start

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Leeds United have made a flying start to the 2020/21 campaign and one man who has been the heartbeat of everything good is Mateusz Klich.

The Polish performer has been a solid addition to the Leeds ranks and he was instrumental during their run towards promotion last season.

It would appear that he is thriving in the Premier League too, however, with some statistics showcasing exactly how he is so useful.

Some pass maps of Leeds players did the rounds after last week’s thrashing of Aston Villa and frankly, they make fantastic reading as far as Klich is concerned.

The White signed Klich from FC Twente in 2017 and it’s fair to say the jury was out when he first arrived at the club.

Within six months he was loaned back to Holland to sign for FC Utrecht and some feared his days at Leeds might be numbered.

Not Marcelo Bielsa though. Since the Argentine walked through the Elland Road door he has given Klich the freedom to shine.

The 2018/19 campaign saw him score 10 goals and register nine assists, whilst last season he scored seven and created five.

This season he has played as a No.10 and in a more natural central midfield role but his latest pass map highlights for the Villa game make good reading.

Accomplished

He registered a 79.1% pass success ratio, with a large chunk of his 14 unsuccessful passes, coming from crosses into the box.

Whilst other players pass maps typically highlight a position being held, Klich’s come from all over the park.

With that in mind, he is clearly becoming one of Bielsa’s most important players.

With Patrick Bamford, Kalvin Phillips and Robin Koch earning the main plaudits, Klich’s contributions are slipping under the radar.

Leeds’ season is going superbly well and Klich is very much the unsung hero of their blistering start to the campaign.