Leeds United’s impressive victory over Chelsea has unlocked the key to Premier League survival

“Welcome to Premier League, welcome to Leeds.”

That’s how Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca described the evening for Estevao Willian, hailed as the most gifted South American talent Leeds United has faced since Ronaldo Nazario three decades ago.

Teenage sensation Ronaldo missed PSV’s 1995 UEFA Cup trip to West Yorkshire but starred in the second leg.

Just last week, Estevao was being compared to legends like Ronaldo and Neymar after his standout performance in Chelsea’s Champions League victory over Barcelona.

“He’s seen as the best, brightest, most talented player to come out of Brazil since Neymar, and he has some advantages,” Brazilian football expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports News.

“He appears more stable than Neymar and has less baggage. The sky's the limit for him.”

However, his performance at Elland Road was far less impressive, as he struggled against Daniel Farke’s physical squad.

Frustrated by being two goals down and having limited opportunities, Estevao lashed out at Leeds left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson after losing the ball again.

In the violent history of this fixture, it wasn't particularly reminiscent of Norman Hunter vs Chopper Harris, but it was clearly a frustration-fueled kick with no effort to play the ball.

A stricter referee might have issued a red card, but Maresca opted to bench him for the second half.

This encapsulates Leeds United’s strategy for survival: three strong defenders, two imposing forwards, and three hardworking midfielders.

It's not glamorous, but it effectively neutralized a Chelsea side overflowing with talent and resources. Often, that’s the reality in the Premier League.

A #FarkeOut supporter might argue that Leeds’ 3-1 triumph over Chelsea merely delays the inevitable, giving the German manager more time than warranted.

Such critics might recall how a surprise victory against Liverpool once kept Jesse Marsch in his role, ultimately proving counterproductive.

However, this overlooks two significant distinctions.

Firstly, Marsch adhered rigidly to his Red Bull-inspired tactics, sacrificing width and running erratically, claiming his methods were justified by the win at Anfield.

Secondly, that match was an anomaly—a surprise win that Marsch viewed as a ‘masterclass‘.

This isn’t a strategy Leeds could replicate under the optimistic Wisconsinite.

In contrast, Farke's victory over Chelsea was a tactical masterclass in flexibility. Leeds maintained only 29% possession yet effectively thwarted Chelsea, keeping their shape and creating the more threatening opportunities.

Each component of the 5-3-2 system executed their role nearly flawlessly.

The 3-1 outcome matched the expected goals, with Leeds recording 2.78 to Chelsea’s 0.96.

Even Maresca, usually critical after losses to Farke’s Leeds, acknowledged the fairness of the result.

“They [Leeds] deserved to win the game; they were better in all aspects,” the Italian stated in the post-match press conference.

Farke can be stubborn, which frustrates many Leeds supporters, but this performance showcased another facet of his coaching. It was a stark contrast to the dominant approach that led Leeds to 100 points in the Championship.

Leeds had been seeking an alternative method to secure victories all season. Now, they’ve achieved that.