Helder Costa’s best football may have been stifled by Marcelo Bielsa’s tactics, but Barry Douglas is calling for patience as the Portuguese slowly adapts.
The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee, who becomes a permanent signing this summer, has struggled to hit the heights of his debut Molineux campaign at times this term.
Three goals and two assists is a modest return for an attacking player who will ultimately cost United close to £15m.
However, Douglas, a team-mate of Costa’s for one year when Wolves won the Championship in 2018, feels he only needs time to properly adapt to Bielsa’s tactics.
The Scot went as far as saying Costa may not get to employ his best attributes in the current system.
“It takes a bit of time to adapt. Helder came in. It’s a completely different style of play he’s used to playing before,” said Douglas.
“There’s an adaption period and the way we play, it’s very intense and sometimes, maybe, he doesn’t get to show his true attributes because of the style of play.
“He’s been brilliant since he’s come in. He’s done everything asked of him and of course there’s still little room for everyone to get better and do what they do best.
“He’s definitely been a credit to the squad.”
Douglas had been at Elland Road for a year by the time the call came from Costa for a review of the place before his own switch.
“He spoke to me and asked a bit about the club, what it’s like, the style of play etc,” he said.
“You can only tell him so much. You need to see it for yourself, experience it yourself.
“I told him how big the club is, the ambition and it’s a really good group of players, so it would be a positive to have him coming in.
“Once I sold it to him he had to come and find out for himself.”
Costa is yet to do an interview with any English language media since his arrival at Elland Road. Little is known about his personality or character.
Douglas was asked.
“Helder’s a bubbly guy,” he said. “He likes to have a laugh, joke around and stuff. He’s quite a laid-back character, doesn’t really take anything too seriously which is always nice.
“He’s always got a smile on his face.”
