Gary Neville has been left hugely impressed by Leeds United in their 3-1 win over Chelsea, where they looked comfortable against a Champions League side at Elland Road.
Daniel Farke’s side lifted themselves out of the relegation zone for the time being with the win on Wednesday night. One result has changed the narrative around the club.
Leeds came into the game on the back of four straight defeats, with Farke speculated to be on the brink of getting sacked. However, everything changed following the win over Chelsea.
Pundits were left shocked by how comfortable Leeds looked, and it even prompted a meltdown from former Chelsea star Jason Cundy, whose frustrations spilt over.
Gary Neville provided his honest thoughts on Leeds United
The former Manchester United defender was left shocked by the performance Leeds produced against a Chelsea side that recently beat Barcelona.
Farke has changed his formation to 5-3-2, and Neville believes this system suits Leeds, who are going to be a problem for any team in the Premier League.
He feels Leeds have the players to play the new system, and the result against Chelsea will change their season. Neville believes Leeds are now a decent bet to survive in the Premier League.
“This from Leeds tonight has been much better, it looks much better and feels much better”, Neville said on Sky Sports.
“With the three big centre-backs, the wing-backs who have got legs to get up and down, those three in midfield scrapping and the two big lads up top. It’s a system that suits them.
“Suddenly, they look hard to play against. This is a big night for Leeds, potentially one that will change their season.
“What we have seen tonight, I feel there is a shift, a shift in what people might predict for them this season, it gives them a real chance, and I feel that.
“Leeds needed this tonight, and what I have seen, this new system, I like this from Leeds. It feels like they are going to cause teams problems, and they looked like a threat all game.”
The formation change worked
The second half against Manchester City last weekend provided a snapshot of what Leeds could look like for the rest of the season.
However, there were doubts as Farke was known for being married to the 4-3-3 formation, and he indicated recently that a system change is not always beneficial.
| Leeds United | Statistic | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
|
14
|
Shots |
11
|
| 4 | Shots on target | 2 |
| 29% | Possession | 71% |
| 197 | Passes | 596 |
| 82% | Pass accuracy | 94% |
Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha together are a handful for any defence because of their physicality. With Leeds wingers struggling, Farke placed his trust in Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle to turn into wing-backs.
He now has a system that has worked against two of the best teams in the league. The Leeds boss has no reason to go back to his 4-3-3 anytime soon.
