There are some players who, on their day, are unplayable. They glide around with aplomb and everyone else on the pitch seems below them. That was Pablo Hernandez for Leeds United yesterday.
Effortless was a word that could have been used to describe the Spaniard’s contribution yesterday for the Whites versus the Black Cats. It is often an overused term that, to such a degree, becomes a cliché in football. It was fully deserved yesterday though and the 30,000+ inside Elland Road, including 2,000 Sunderland fans would have gladly told you so.
Hernandez continues to play like a king at Leeds United, issuing passes like royalty of old issued decrees and judgements. Like I said above, it’s done with such a degree of a lack of effort that some might interpret it as arrogance. It isn’t, it is simply a man going about his business in the only way he knows how.
Un momento de magia de un mago
Pablo Hernández GOAL v Sunderland #LUFC pic.twitter.com/OvPWZqwotk
— #WALMOT (@WALM0T33) April 7, 2018
Hernandez’s goal against Sunderland showed just how easy the former Swansea man can make the difficult look, well, easy. Receiving a flicked pass from Samu Saiz in the Sunderland box, he only needed two delicate touches to stand Donald Love up and turn him inside out. Then a wonderful piece of skill saw him lift the ball, with swerve, up and between two Sunderland defenders, across Lee Camp’s sprawling dive and inside the far post. It was a strike that was warmly received at Elland Road and it put the Whites back on the front foot.
That wasn’t all that Pablo did against Sunderland, not by any measure of the imagination. The diminutive Spaniard put on a veritable masterclass, as the figures below show.
- 87 touches – 7.1% of Leeds United’s possession
- 48 passes/30 successful passes/63% accuracy/7 key passes/23% completed passes led to chances
- 30 completed passes/22 final third passes/73% completed passes attacking balls
- 9 dribbles attempted/6 dribbles won/67% success
- 3 corners taken/2 corners successful/67% accuracy
It was a display that made Leeds United fans really sit up and take notice, as if they hadn’t been doing all season anyway. Such was the degree of control he had over the game, these fans were more than enthused with his magisterial display that bordered on magical at times. Here these fans comment on Twitter about just how impressive the diminutive Spanish wizard was against the Black Cats.
Leeds United fans comment on Twitter after Hernandez masterclass
Pablo Hernandez is worth the price of admission & has made the season bearable. Hope he’s here next season & hope he eventually joins the coaching team #lufc
— jimmy.jazz (@joe_rockabilly) April 7, 2018
I feel sorry for Pablo Hernandez, the guy could probably get in to a lot of Premier League sides still but he’s currently stuck playing amongst our bag of shit team. “Diamond in a goat’s arse” comes to mind! #LUFC
— Stevie Dewar (@StevieWildChild) April 7, 2018
Hernandez please pic.twitter.com/swC1tobq3Y
— Style (@StyleLufc) April 7, 2018
Next seasons @LUFC retained list below
Pablo Hernandez
THAT IS ALL
— Voluptuous Pep Guardiola (@FooWhiter) April 7, 2018
If ever there was a reason to give Hernandez a 2 year contract with an option to be a coach thereafter today was it. Only guy on th pitch looking quality today #lufc
— Paul LUFC (@pistol1603) April 7, 2018
Hernandez – really no explanation needed #lufc
— Kian (@KianMichael01) April 7, 2018
So Pablo Hernandez 1- 1 #Sunderland #lufc
— Bloody Mary 🍹 (@Mazzaleeds) April 7, 2018
Imagine still not giving Hernandez a new contract. Streets ahead. #lufc
— Lee (@LufcLee19) April 7, 2018
Please just let this season be over 😭😭 thanks Hernandez for keeping us afloat.. #lufc
— Karl Button (@Karllbutton) April 7, 2018
Hernandez just brilliant once again. Working his socks of, winning balls, creating chances and scoring goals. Captain material. Give him what he wants!! #lufc
— Sondre (@SondreDalen) April 7, 2018
I love Pablo Hernandez more than my family at this stage #signhimup
— Ruairi-Joesph Collier🎩 (@RuairiLUFC) April 7, 2018