Analysis: Marc Roca shining on loan at Real Betis, so why did he struggle so badly at Leeds United?

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Marc Roca has made an excellent start to life at Real Betis since he returned to Spain with the La Liga club on a season-long loan from Leeds United – so, what was the reason for his Elland Road failure?

Roca, 26, always had the quality. His consistency at a young age with Espanyol earned him a move to Bayern Munich, no less. But, he has struggled to make that happen in the last three years of his career.

Now at Betis, Roca has started all four league games and impressed in those – Spanish media recently branding him both “clever” and “remarkable”. So, why did he fail at Leeds – and who is to blame?

What was the reason for Roca failing at Leeds?

Tyler Adams injury

It certainly didn’t help. The first three games of 22-23 gave Leeds fans hope. The combative nature of Adams, the silky, transitional play of Roca. It seemed to be a good combination in the middle of the park.

But when Adams was sidelined, Roca was asked to do more of what Adams did – and he could not deal with it. Not defensively-minded enough to stop counter attacks and cover space in the way Adams did.

Jesse Marsch tactics, change of managers

Marsch used him in a 4-2-3-1 system and it did look as though Roca and Adams covered eachother’s weaknesses. They were different enough, not to clash. But Marsch did not let Roca prosper, or adapt.

Constantly taken off. Last season, Marsch managed 20 league games. In those, he left Roca to play 90 minutes on four occasions. Seven, saw Roca manage below 65 minutes. Maybe, Marsch held him back.

English football – Victor Orta

But surely, the main reason is that he is simply not suited to English football. Marsch may have taken the £10m man all the time as he could not deal with the intensity of the Premier League, for 90 minutes.

Failing to get in at Bayern and struggling in England but instantly impressing again in Spain – where the intensity is lower, more technical – is proof of that theory. If that is the case, then Victor Orta is to blame.

Orta should have realised that beforehand. The new Sevilla sporting director is supposed to have a big scouting network around him. It would not have taken much to realise he would not suit English football?