Leeds United’s exceptional defence has been underlined by an incredible statistic.
Not only do Leeds boast the best defensive record in England this season, but no side in Europe has a better record.
Marcelo Bielsa's Whites have conceded just 10 goals from 19 games so far. Only Leicester City in the Premier League have shipped fewer in the top four tiers of English football - conceding nine - but the Foxes have also played five games fewer.
No side in any of Europe’s top five leagues has conceded fewer goals per game, either.
Leeds have kept 10 clean sheets so far this season, three more than any other side in the Championship, while they’ve conceded more than one goal just once.
Their tally of 29 clean sheets since the beginning of the 2018-19 season, when Bielsa took over, is also the highest number in the top four tiers of English football, as Twitter's @LUFCDATA points out:
HUGE STAT: Leeds have conceded just 0.53 goals per game this season (10 goals in 19 matches), no side in Europe's top 5 leagues or the top four tiers of English league football has a better defensive record in 2019/20. #LUFC pic.twitter.com/0OEnui71vU
— LUFCDATA (@LUFCDATA) December 1, 2019
The record coincides with the arrival of Brighton loanee Ben White, who has earned plenty of plaudits as Pontus Jansson’s replacement alongside captain Liam Cooper in the backline.
The decision to sell Jansson to Championship rivals Brentford in the summer prompted a lot of criticism and scepticism from fans and pundits alike, but it’s a move that’s paid dividends with 22-year-old talent White excelling in his place.
No player averages more interceptions than White this season (2.6 per game), with the young centre-half playing every minute of United’s Championship campaign this season.
The Whites’ backline is looking in particularly fine fettle at present, with just two goals conceded during their five-game winning streak.
They’ll be looking to keep that record going in Saturday’s Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield, but it will be a different look to the defence with White likely moving into midfield in place of the suspended Kalvin Phillips.
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