Lucas Perri may not be Diego Maradona, but his passing is not the only concern for Leeds United
Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has defended his goalkeeper, Lucas Perri, after questions were asked over his distribution during the win over Chelsea.
Lucas Perri has had an unsettling start to life at Elland Road after agreeing to join Leeds from Lyon during the summer transfer window.
An injury ruled Perri out for several weeks before Daniel Farke recalled him to the Leeds side, amid a difficult run of form for both the team and the player.
Leeds decided to adopt a more direct approach against Chelsea, and Perri was guilty of frequently giving away possession as the visitors dominated the ball in West Yorkshire.
Although Farke has admitted that Perri’s distribution remains a work in progress, the Leeds boss should be concerned by another worrying stat ahead of the game against Liverpool.
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What did Daniel Farke say about Lucas Perri’s distribution?
Speaking in his press conference ahead of the game against Liverpool, Farke discussed the room for improvement in Perri’s game.
According to Farke, while he does not expect Perri to play like legendary Argentinian Diego Maradona, the Leeds goalkeeper knows he has to improve with the ball at his feet.
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Farke said: “I think he was involved in all our clean sheets so far. This is most important, and also his name says goalkeeper. He keeps the ball away from our goal, and this is the most important topic. But it’s also like his first season in English football, and he has to adapt a bit, of course.
“Intensity and the pressing were always high, but in this league, they are even a bit higher than he was perhaps used to be. There’s also no hiding behind the fact that there are a few areas in this game where he needs to improve, but he knows this. We were also quite open and honest about this.
“He needs to step up in these areas, but the most important topic is also that he makes sure that he stops the shots and crosses, and also makes no major mistakes or good opportunities for the opponent.
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“But there are definitely also some areas where he has to improve and can improve, and this also comes a bit like with experience. So I also don’t think that we will make a number 10 out of him.
“It’s not like he will play like Diego Maradona on the ball, that’s definitely a fact, but it’s still something where he has to step up and has to improve, and he knows this.”
Leeds United should be worried about damaging Lucas Perri statistic
While Farke is right to suggest that Perri’s distribution is not the most important element of his game, the Brazilian also has room to improve the fundamentals of his game.
Other players played more significant roles in Chelsea’s only goal of the game; however, Perri will be disappointed that he was beaten at his near post.
Farke himself stated that keeping the ball away from the Leeds goal is Perri’s main job, and according to the stats from Opta, he is the worst in the Premier League at doing so.
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Perri has stopped just 53.9% of the shots he has faced, saving 21 and conceding 18 goals, from an expected goals against of 16.9.
According to the data from FBRef, Perri connected with just 31% of his attempted passes against Chelsea, contributing to an overall completion rate of 56.5% for the season, the fourth-worst of any goalkeeper in the top flight.
Farke will be reluctant to change his goalkeeper after an impressive win. However, he needs to see more from Perri as Leeds look to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
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