A Junior who runs like a senior
Firpo is an effective defender, but his lack of tracking back contributed to three of Man Utd’s four goals
You could write a book on Ezgjan ‘Gjanni’ Alioski. The man seemed like he was almost literally buzzing, both on and off the pitch. He wasn’t the greatest defender — it’s arguable whether you could call him a defender, but he played in as a left back for Bielsa, so let’s not get philosophical — but he was unbelievably committed and combined well down the left-hand side with Jack Harrison.
At the end of last season, Alioski and the club couldn’t agree terms, and he departed on a free — meaning signing a left back was a priority.
The player chosen to fill that role was Junior Firpo, who joined Leeds after two years at Barcelona. He didn’t play much in Catalonia, and it was a very turbulent time for the club, but Barcelona signing someone carries with it a certain expectation.
Since joining Leeds, Firpo has been in and out of the team and has missed games through injury, so hasn’t really been able to pick up any great momentum or have any big moments for the club.
His stats, however, have been good relative to the other first team players (played at least 360 mins) this season. Per 90, he’s attempted more tackles than anyone, and only midfielders Kalvin Phillips and Jamie Shackleton have won them more frequently. Pascal Struijk is the only defender to press more often, and that includes the Dutchman’s significant minutes playing Kalvin’s role.
When comparing Alioski last season to Firpo at Leeds thus far, the data also suggests Junior is more effective at defending than his North Macedonian predecessor.
Per 90 minutes, opponents dribbled at Alioski only slightly more often than they dribble at Firpo — but Junior is seemingly a much tougher man to face up to, getting beaten only half as often as Gjanni.
The comparison of their pressing is a bit more nuanced. Alioski pressed around 20% more often than Firpo does, and that doubles to over 40% more often in the middle third of the pitch.
Firpo’s pressing is more effective — resulting in Leeds gaining possession around a third of the time, whereas with Alioski it was roughly a quarter — but ultimately Alioski helped Leeds get the ball back slightly more times per match than Firpo does.
This weekend, Firpo started the game on the bench but came on with just over 30 minutes gone and the score at 0–0. It was to be an eventful hour of football.
He got his first ever assist for Leeds, winning the ball and laying it off for Rodrigo to go full 2002 World Cup Ronaldinho and loft it over David De Gea. He should’ve been the man who was fouled by Scott McTominay for his second yellow card. He made four key passes, including a pass into Klich that led to a decent shooting opportunity.
He also failed to track back at key moments which had a direct impact on the three goals from open play.
0–2: Fernandes (45+5')
Towards the end of first-half stoppage time, Victor Lindelof breaks forward from defence and plays a quick one-two with Firpo’s man, Jadon Sancho. Here, Sancho — with Firpo in tow— has just flicked the ball through to Lindelof.
However, while Sancho then legs it in support, Firpo never tops a reasonable jog. A few seconds later, Sancho appears on the overlap for Lindelof but Firpo is almost nowhere to be seen.
Lindelof waits for the support, and by the time the England man arrives at this lay-off, Firpo is now literally nowhere to be seen.
The goal can’t be entirely blamed on Junior. Sancho’s perfectly weighted chip into the box is a wonderful assist, and Fernandes’s header gives Meslier no chance.
Other errors play their part, too. Lindelof is given too much freedom to run forward, and then speeds past Forshaw; that draws Struijk away from his man, Fernandes — first to hold up Lindelof, and then across to the unmarked Sancho. The free man, Ayling, then doesn’t pick up Bruno, meaning he has space to nod the ball home from the returning cross.
2–3: Fred (70')
Leeds came back into the game in dramatic fashion early in the second half, and with 20 minutes to go the game is up for grabs.
Struijk lofts the ball out to Firpo, who has found some decent space out on the left. The ball is slightly behind him, and he has to turn back with his leg outstretched to reach it.
The ball dies in the waterlogged turf with Firpo off balance, allowing Bruno Fernandes to nip in and carry the ball away. It’s unfortunate, but the Leeds man then seems to make no real effort to chase back.
Fernandes is then free to bring the ball forward under absolutely no pressure, and can even slow to an almost walking pace while he assesses his options and waits for support. Firpo, meanwhile, remains a good ten yards away, yet to get any faster than a light jog.
The ball then gets worked out to Sancho, who waits for Fred on the overlap. The Brazilian cleverly runs behind Sancho, preventing Klich from tracking him, before smashing home the return ball.
Again, this goal isn’t all Firpo’s doing. It’s well-worked play by Man Utd. The above image also doesn’t cover the team’s defending in glory, with four white shirts within five square yards of each other, yet two unmarked attackers beyond them.
When Fred makes it to the return pass he’s still not clear through on goal, and one of Klich (who, to be fair, has just eaten up about 60 yards), the covering Struijk, and Meslier at his near post could block the shot.
What is also visible is Junior, still doing his Peter Kay dad run, well outside the area with no intentions of at least reaching the unmarked Ronaldo.
2–4: Elanga (88')
It’s much the same for the third goal. Here, Firpo has followed his man, eventual goalscorer Elanga, right across the pitch to what is effectively the right-back spot.
Fred plays it into Fernandes, who tries to flick it over Struijk (much like Pogba had done to Forshaw in the first half). Struijk gets his positioning right, but slips on the ball allowing Fernandes back in.
Elanga anticipates the opportunity, and is now well goal-side of Firpo.
Ayling comes across to cover, but is just beaten to the ball by Fernandes. Bruno’s touch plays the ball into the path of the incoming Elanga to slot home unmarked.
If Firpo had gone with Elanga he could’ve either swept up that touch from Fernandes or, at the very least, made it very difficult for either Man Utd player to get a shot away. In the end it was a composed finish, but one the Swedish under-21 international was able to make without any defensive pressure.
So where does that leave Junior Firpo and Leeds in the long run? The pure man-marking system that Bielsa’s Leeds play is completely reliant on the undying commitment to it by his players. If one player doesn’t stick to his man, the others are left completely exposed. On Sunday, Leeds conceded three times after Firpo let his man go.
Leeds are (almost infamously) short of players and Firpo has shown himself to be a solid defender, so he will undoubtedly have a role to play.
However, it’s not his ability but whether or not he has the commitment for the fight that could be key between now and the end of the season.
