After a stroll to victory for the Whites at an electric Elland Road, the fan-voted Leeds United player ratings are in. Learn more about who the fans thought were the best performers against Chelsea and learn exactly how Jesse Marsch’s side won.
Leeds United Player Ratings vs Chelsea at Home
What an incredible match! Congratulations to the whole team and thanks to the fans!
MOT
Qué partido más increíble! Felicidades a todo el equipo y gracias a la afición!
— Diego Llorente (@diego_2llorente) August 21, 2022
Man of the Match
This is an extremely close race for Man of the Match. Illan Meslier was impressive in goal and kept challenging efforts from Mason Mount and Reece James out. Tyler Adams was a dynamic destroyer in midfield, breaking up attack after attack. Meanwhile, Brenden Aaronson’s pressing played havoc (we’ll get to that) and Rodrigo continued his incredible form with a goal and an assist.
However, the fans’ Man of the Match against the Blues is Jack Harrison. In spite of fears about Leeds’ creativity pre-season, the winger leapt into the breach and answered any questions people have about him. This match saw a goal and an assist from the wide man.
Today’s returns bring Harrison’s total to a goal and three assists for the season. With repeated strong performances, there could be a shout for the Whites’ number 11, fondly dubbed “Jackie Haradona“, to secure a place in the England squad in Qatar. With England’s usual stars such as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling all drawing blanks, could the Leeds man step into the vacuum in time?
Pressing and Pace
One of the main aspects of the match was the Whites’ incredibly high press. Specifically, using pressing and pace to force mistakes. Dan James pressed a lot of keepers last season, earning several yellow cards in the process. This season, Aaronson is an integral part of the press. Elland Road erupted as the American bore down on Edouard Mendy and forced him into a mistake, leaving himself an incredibly easy no-look tap-in to take the lead.
Pace, agility and running are other integral aspects of “Marschball”, and were also the direct cause of Kalidou Koulibaly’s dismissal. The first booking came as Aaronson used his slight frame, turning deftly on the spot. The centre-back panicked, grasping for both the midfielder’s shirt and body. In the dying moments of the match, the Senegalese defender grappled at the neck of a sprinting Joe Gelhardt, earning a second yellow card.
Leeds United’s current football is incredibly impressive in and of itself. However, the ability to force major mistakes from world-class players takes it up a notch. In spite of Thomas Tuchel claiming “we were clearly the better team” and blaming mistakes, it helps that Marsch’s men manufactured the mistakes.
Full Leeds United Player Ratings
The full player ratings for the Chelsea match were as follows. Full data for the ratings is here, with the rating taken at 20:23 on August 21st, 2022:
- Stuart Atwell (Referee) – 7.66
- Jesse Marsch (Manager) – 9.22
- Illan Meslier – 9.01
- Rasmus Kristensen – 7.63
- Robin Koch – 8.35
- Diego Llorente – 8.07
- Pascal Struijk – 8.52
- Tyler Adams – 9.43
- Marc Roca – 8.02
- Dan James – 7.64
- Brenden Aaronson – 9.34
- Jack Harrison – 9.45
- Rodrigo – 9.12
- Adam Forshaw (Sub) – 7.60
- Luis Sinisterra (Sub) – 7.07
- Mateusz Klich (Sub) – 7.23
- Sam Greenwood (Sub) – 7.13
- Joe Gelhardt (Sub) – 7.35
