Former Leeds United star Noel Whelan has insisted that quality players will adapt to Marcelo Bielsa’s style if the club want to spend in January.
Back-to-back defeats have damped the spirits at Leeds after a seven-game winning run, but they remain on the perch at the top of the Championship table for the moment.
But there are growing calls for Leeds to make additions to their squad this month if they are to sustain their promotion charge until the end of the season.
Bielsa has tried to play down talk of strengthening his squad in January and there are also concerns new signings could struggle to meet the Leeds boss’ demands in the middle of the season.
However, Whelan feels the fears are misplaced as quality players will find ways to adapt to a manager and team’s needs even if they join the squad in the middle of a campaign.
He insisted that top players will have the intelligence to cope with what Bielsa wants.
The former Whites star said on BBC Radio Leeds following the loss at Nottingham Forest: “Quality players adapt at the end of the day.
“Football is football. I don't think anything's changed from what I've known when I was playing.
“You could bang me in there if I was fit enough, I'd do a job! I'd know what the manager wanted, what he'd want from me defensively, attacking, what positions he'd want me to get into.
“Good players, quality players, intelligent players know what the manager wants, know how the team play and defensively what they have to do to support the team, and going forward.
“It's not rocket science, it's football.”
Leeds will be in FA Cup action on Sunday when they travel to Queens Park Rangers for a third round clash.
