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“We got beaten by quality of only one Leeds United player”- Stoke City Manager Narcis Pelach singles out one Leeds United star who he thinks was backbone that Leeds to their defeat also for praise him as pressure grows on Stoke City chief
Narcis Pelach believed the key moment in Stoke City’s home defeat to Championship leaders Leeds United came in the second minute, when Lewis Koumas had an early chance to put the Potters ahead but was denied by a superb save from Illan Meslier.
Leeds dominated large portions of the match and clinched all three points with two goals from their top scorer, Joel Piroe, one either side of halftime.
When asked if the game might have played out differently had Koumas scored, Pelach said, “I think so. It was a good opportunity, but Meslier made a great save and reacted well to it.”
Pelach expressed disappointment with the result, acknowledging Leeds’ quality. “Leeds are a very strong team, and they make life difficult for everyone, not just us.
We had a good chance with Lewis, but we didn’t score. We knew they would have more possession and push us deep. They’re a good side. When you try to press them, they can exploit space with their pace and create chances. We were beaten by quality.”
The loss extended Stoke’s winless streak to nine matches, increasing the pressure on Pelach. Their last victory came on November 6 at Blackburn Rovers.
Sitting 19th in the Championship, just three points above the relegation zone, Stoke will face Sunderland on Sunday in their final match of 2024. “When you don’t win in football, confidence takes a hit,” Pelach admitted. “We have to stay strong and not feel sorry for ourselves. Things can change quickly, but we must believe we can turn it around.”
