Former Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis has explained in detail how he gave Leeds United the ultimate respect last season by changing his philosophy.
Pulis was speaking ahead of Leeds' 1-0 win over West Brom on Tuesday which retained the Whites' lead at the top of the Championship when he was asked to delve into his gameplan for facing Marcelo Bielsa last season.
Boro drew 1-1 at home to Leeds in February but also held Bielsa's men without a goal in the fixture at Elland Road last August. Not only that, Pulis' side held the Whites to their lowest shot total at home during the 2018/19 campaign.
Pulis told Sky Sports about how he tried to reduce Leeds' and particularly Jack Harrison's threat from wide areas after they switch the play from the other side of the field.
"I never change very much for what I do against teams but we changed against them (Leeds). What I didn't want to do, and they do it brilliant they push their two full-backs right up high, if you play four in midfield they actually push your wide players back.
"So we actually went to a swiveling five. The centre forward stayed up there and we played two central midfielders in there and a holding midfielder.
"There would be (Pablo) Hernandez on the right-hand side coming in and then you'd get (Stuart) Dallas going around the outside. (Jamie) Shackleton today would be in that pocket and last season it was (Kemar) Roofe who would come forward.
"It leaves you either outnumbered where they play through you there (left-hand side) or it leaves that big space. We played with George Friend on the left-hand side and Dael Fry on the left-hand side and they swivelled that side.
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"What we did which was very important is we made sure then that we still had bodies on the opposite side of the pitch. What they do really well is they get the ball out and switch it. (Jack) Harrison gets it and in one-on-ones they are very good and they fill the box. They get a lot of chances from overloading one side and then switching the ball."
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