What can you say about that? We’ve spent the season riding a roller coaster of emotions, purring with joy at a style of football that has taken the Premier League by storm, and kicking the cat at times, at our apparent naivety and stubborn refusal to rein things in when a more risk-free solid approach might have brought dividends.
Well, I know there’s still seven games left, but you have to say that Leeds United well and truly saved the best until almost the very last.
It wasn’t only the performance that was outstanding, Marcelo Bielsa gave a tactical masterclass to one of the greatest managers in the world in Pep Guardioloa. His decision to replace Patrick Bamford after Liam Cooper’s sending off will have raised a few eyebrows in some quarters, but Beilsa knew Leeds would have to defend for their lives and would be restricted to the occasional counter – and what better way to deal with that than bring Patrick off and leave Raphinha up there to exploit Fernandinho’s lack of pace should we get that chance.
It’s impossible to single out anyone from the game, although I have to say how pleased I was for Stuart Dallas. I’ve talked many times about how he has to be one of the main contenders for the player of the season and for him to score two goals – in the manner that he did – against the soon-to-be crowned Premier League champions speaks volumes. The ball from Ezgjan Alioski was a peach for the second goal and his finish was class.
Imagine the scenes in the away end if we’d had 5,000 there?