There’s not a lot to be optimistic about at Leeds United at the moment.
The Whites are having a torrid time in the Premier League so far. They’re in the relegation zone and are yet to win a single game.
Leeds may be in a bad spot right now, but things can quickly change in football, and once they do, we may be able to look back on these first few games more positively – and there have been positives to take.
Raphinha is still looking like a world-class player, while Illan Meslier is still shining as a bright young goalkeeper.
However, perhaps the biggest positive Leeds have to take away from this season so far is the recent emergence of Charlie Cresswell.
Leeds have plenty of talented U23s who have appeared this term, Joe Gelhardt and Crysencio Summerville are just two, but Cresswell looks like he could be the jewel in the crown.
The centre-back has started each of Leeds’ last two games, and he’s taken to senior football like a duck to water. Fans online have been raving about him, while Marcelo Bielsa has had nothing but good things to say.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Bielsa has integrated a centre-back into his squad to great success. Ben White joined in 2019/20 having never played above League One level and by the end of his debut, he was already being talked about amongst the best centre-halves in the Championship.
Meanwhile, Pascal Struijk was thrown in the deep end last term, becoming a Premier League regular after barely featuring in the Championship, and he played a massive part in the Whites’ top-half finish last term.
Cresswell looks like he could follow in White and Struijk’s footsteps by becoming an overnight centre-back sensation for Bielsa’s side, and that’s a huge reason to be optimistic about the Yorkshire club right now.
Leeds may be in a poor run of form right now, but the negativity surrounding the results shouldn’t overshadow a brilliant start for Cresswell.
