Friday night’s win over Sheffield United might just have been Leeds United’s best result of the season and certainly, their best performance of the 2024-25 campaign.
Goals from Pascal Struijk and Mateo Joseph saw Leeds keep a sixth clean sheet of the season and climb into second place. Saturday’s Championship fixtures saw Leeds slip back into third place in the league.
Burnley’s away win over Sheffield Wednesday means Leeds now sit third behind Scott Parker’s men and early pace setters Sunderland, with Regis Le Bris’ side facing a difficult trip to Hull on Sunday afternoon.
But it was an accomplished performance from Leeds especially given that a number of Daniel Farke’s side had only just returned from international duty and that The Whites are currently suffering a midfield crisis.
Leigh Bromby raves over new Leeds United player Ao Tanaka
But Japan star Ao Tanaka is helping rid Leeds of that concern in midfield. With Ilia Gruev undergoing an operation and Ethan Ampadu out until the new year, Leeds have been left with Joe Rothwell and Tanaka.
Rothwell has starred in the last two games and Tanaka won man of the match on Friday night, despite the midfielder playing for Japan in Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against Australia. Leigh Bromby praised the Leeds ace.
“They build from the back, he drops in as a third centre-back, he starts the attacks and progresses the ball forward. Because he is on the ball, he is never giving it away, you are always sustaining those attacks.
“He can find those passes into Rothwell and Rothwell’s driving. It looks a really promising partnership and they look like they have been playing with each other for a long time,” Bromby told BBC Radio Leeds.
Midfield crisis? Tanaka shines for Leeds in place of Ethan Ampadu
The chances are that Leeds could still bring in a free agent in due course. The likes of Cheikhou Kouyate, Francis Coquelin, Christoph Kramer and Joshua Guilavogui have all been linked with a move to Leeds.
Tanaka stats vs Sheffield United:
- 1 key pass, 1 aerial won
- 89 touches (third highest)
- 1 tackle, 1 interception
- 2 clearances, 1 block, two fouls
- 67 passes successful, 75 attempted
- 4 long balls successful, 6 attempted
But while Leeds still need depth in midfield and especially more of a defensive-minded option, Tanaka and Rothwell are showing Farke and Leeds fans that the perceived crisis is not as bad as first seemed.
The duo will start against Watford and for the foreseeable future unless one of them picks up an injury or a suspension. But, when Gruev and Ampadu return, it is difficult to find a reason for one to be dropped.
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