Marcelo Bielsa has built a very strong Leeds United side over the past two seasons with the tactical structures clearly proving far more important than the individuals operating in it.

Having arrived at Elland Road in the summer of 2018, there was expected to be a bit of an overhaul by Marcelo Bielsa, as the players massively disappointed in the 2017/18 term under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom.

However, Bielsa only made a handful of first-team signings to strengthen in particular areas of weakness, with many of the first-team retaining their place and some returning from the abyss, such as Mateusz Klich.

Having fallen short last season, there was still an awful lot of positivity to take out of the 2018/19 season and this translated into this season, seeing them immediately pushing for the top two along with West Brom, who also missed out last season in the play-offs.

With Bielsa’s tactical setup, it has proven how well he has coached probably more than the quality of the individual players, as other coaches have proven with these players.

There are always players who fit in more than others at clubs and even more so with such a specific coaching method being implemented. 

Underperforming players at Elland Road would definitely potentially suit different styles of play elsewhere.

Here are two players who would probably be more suited to playing their football at another side…

Barry Douglas

The Scottish international signed as one of Bielsa’s first incomings since being appointed, as he targeted a full-back with a strong distribution out wide and the experience to retain shape in the defence.

Douglas started like a house on fire for Leeds, helping them to a string of very strong results and his partnership with Gjanni Alioski in the first few months made for very good viewing at Leeds.

Injuries have hampered Douglas’ time at Leeds over the past two seasons and his performances in a back four haven’t filled many Leeds fans with confidence as the emphasis on his defensive abilities is much more noticeable.

Having joined from Wolves, Douglas was extremely effective in a three-at-the-back formation which allowed him more freedom to get into dangerous positions out wide, with the cover behind him in case he was caught out.

It would seem that Douglas would be more suited to a side that allows him more freedom in his role where the honus isn’t on how solid he is defensively as well as offensively.

Do you know where Leeds signed these players?

Helder Costa

The Portuguese winger is another former Wolves man and enjoyed his time at Molineux along with Douglas, but his start to life at Elland Road has been a slow one.

An attacking player in Leeds’ team this season is faced with a very similar dilemma each game, which is trying to carve out chances in the midst of a completely packed out penalty area.

Costa’s brilliance on the ball is greeted by two or more defenders trying to crowd him out into losing possession, meaning his influence is often stifled, making him look worse than he actually is.

If he were to be playing in a side more suited to counter-attacking football, exploiting space in the opposition defence, then he might be much more effective, as he showed at Wolves over his few seasons there.