Loads of Leeds United fans have been tearing into Mateusz Klich on social media for his Boxing Day performance at home to Preston North End.
Klich maintained his ever-present role in midfield at home to the Lilywhites on Thursday evening, when he started alongside Stuart Dallas following the hamstring injury Pablo Hernandez suffered in Saturday’s loss to Fulham.
Hernandez is expected to be out for the next month with the blow, and fans will likely be counting down the days until the Spaniard returns going by some of the messages shared on Klich’s performance against Preston.
It was by far one of the Poland international’s worst performances of the season so far, as he dallied in possession for too long in the first-half before Preston would snatch the ball and open the scoring.
Klich was able to improve somewhat in the second-half to deliver some tempting crosses into the visitor’s penalty area, but the 29-year-old could not be the imposing presence we needed in the centre with the chance to go within a point of league-leaders West Bromwich Albion.
The £7,750-per-week midfielder managed to complete 80% of his total 54 passes against Preston, but only registered one key ball. Klich also failed to guide his only shot of the game on target, and did not record any attempted dribbles, tackles or offensive aerial duels, per WhoScored data.
He lost his sole defensive aerial duel, as well, while being dispossessed on one occasion.
Klich turned the ball over throughout the game, too, with the 23-cap international losing possession 21 times, according to Sofa Score statistics, while losing his sole ground duel and only connecting with a teammate with one of his nine crosses.
Is Klich at risk of being dropped this weekend?
Yes
No
Slaven Bilic’s Baggies had been held to a 1-1 draw away to Barnsley earlier in the day, after former Whites defender Aapo Halme struck a 90th-minute equaliser.
But it was not to be, and we now prepare for Sunday’s trip to Birmingham City without a win in our last three league games and still three points down on first-place.
Here are some of the messages shared on Klich’s performance against Preston…
First 5 mins set tone with 4 mistakes from Ayling.
Lack of physicality to get stuck in.
Dallas , KP, Klich chasing shadows in midfield.
— John Borison #GetPromotionDone (@John62747999) December 26, 2019
Klich just offers so little attacking threat
— Mark Ramm (@LufcRammy) December 26, 2019
Not good enough today shocking performance….Cooper caught like a rabbit in the head lights for the goal….clueless first half such a stubborn manager Bielsa sometimes u need to change it and Klich is not doing Enough…Ayling cant beat the first man with a cross ffs #lufc
— Mark McKenna (@markohmc) December 26, 2019
Easily a few players worst games of the season. Phillips, Cooper and klich, lazy in possession particularly first half. Need to flipping shake their heads and get that display out or their systems. #lufc
— Andy (@_G_Loken) December 26, 2019
#lufc Don’t understand why the Team started like that. Sometimes you have to Question the Fight of Some player’s. Klich and Bamford come to mind.
— Samuel 🇬🇧🇦🇺 (@Kaden98329883) December 26, 2019
That willingness to utilise the younger players seems to have evaporated of late. Can’t help but wonder if we’re not too risk averse at times. Dallas is many things but he’s never looked convincing as a central midfielder, bless him. Klich disappears if you move him too. #lufc
— Tommy (@tommy_lufc) December 26, 2019
Klich has been awful today!
Harrison has probably been our best player so far, fully expect Nketiah to come on at HT and us to go two up top.
— Mikey Lufc Woody (@1988Woody) December 26, 2019
Klich and Dallas are anonymous here, and not many options to change it. #LUFC
— Mat Thomas (@EmptyUK) December 26, 2019
dallas at cm and klich no.10 is chronic depression
— ZL (@lufcZxch) December 26, 2019
In other Leeds United news, a second club have entered the race to land a 5 ft 6 Whites man in January.