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Leeds United centre-back Liam Cooper produced another eye-catching display in his side’s 2-1 win against Swansea City at Elland Road on Wednesday night, as his transformation under the tutelage of Marcelo Bielsa continues.
While the 27-year-old had been a regular starter under the Argentine manager’s predecessors and was ready to throw his body on the line for his team, he was prone to errors, loose in possession and was often outshone by teammate Pontus Jansson when the duo started alongside each other.
It has been a different story for the Yorkshire outfit’s skipper this term however, as he has stepped up to the plate again and again to become something of an unsung hero when he has been on the pitch, even overshadowing his Sweden international partner on occasions.
The captain’s performance in the 2-1 win against the Swans that saw the Whites return to the top of the Championship standings was quite brilliant, and showed all of the different bows to Cooper’s game right now.
As well as showing his defensive prowess by winning three aerial duels and making four interceptions, he also showed his ability with as a ball-playing centre-back – something that is crucial to be a successful component of a Bielsa team.
The 27-year-old had more touches (107) than anyone else on the pitch, and he made 94 passes including one key one, while he showed his ability to bring the ball out from the defence by successfully completing two dribbles.
At one stage it seemed unlikely that Cooper would be able to make the step up to the Premier League with Leeds if they ever got there, but they remain well on course after jumping back to the top of the standings with 16 fixtures remaining.
If they do return to the top-flight then the centre-back should be one of the first names on the team-sheet come August, as he continues to prove that Bielsa has transformed him into a brilliant all-round player that is ready to thrive at a higher level.
