Rio Ferdinand admits Leeds United's style of play will be exploited by the top teams - but believes his former side will retain their Premier League status.
Ferdinand watched his old club lose 3-0 away to Tottenham Hotspur in their first match of the new year on Saturday.
Harry Kane, Son Heung-min and Toby Alderweireld were on target for Jose Mourinho's men as Leeds left London empty-handed.
Marcelo Bielsa's men remain 11th in the table, with 23 points from 17 matches following their promotion back to the top flight - a comfortable 12 points clear of the relegation zone.
Leeds have been entertaining to watch this season, claiming some excellent wins, but they have also suffered a few heavy losses.
Bielsa is adamant he will not change his approach - but Ferdinand does have a few concerns.
“That’s one of the aspects they need to improve," he told BT Sport.
"Against a team outside the top six or seven, they find that it benefits them in the way that they play, man to man, pressing high, but against the top teams, once that man gets beaten and gets taken out on a man to man basis, it opens the game up and it’s about quality.
"Against these teams, the likes of Son and Harry Kane today, they concede chances and then they concede goals.
"Yes, they do score goals but against the best teams, maybe they do have to adapt the way they play."
Having said that, Ferdinand is backing Leeds to beat the drop this season.
He added: "First season in the Premier League, will they stay up? I believe they will, playing this way.
"They won’t get the results against some of the bigger teams, but I think they’ll win enough games.
"We need to be a bit realistic about where they are.
"They’re newly-promoted, they’ve just come up and they’re sitting in 11th.
"Will they stay up? I think they will, the way they’re playing, they’re an insane team to watch.
"A lot of them are still learning what it’s like to be a Premier League player in a Premier League team. It’s difficult.”
