Leeds United loanee Marc Roca has been slammed for his performance for Real Betis in their 3-2 defeat against Rangers on 14 December.
Betis went into the game top of their group and even a draw would’ve sent them through.
Having not lost a single home match this season, they were overwhelming favourites, but failed to get the job done and Roca made an error for one of their goals.
On 15 December, ABC wrote: “Dessers left Marc Roca sitting on the ground to put Rangers ahead and the Spanish team responded again, this time thanks to Ayoze’s goal. The outcome of the group and the match was on the way to being agonising.
Diario de Sevilla also had a scathing assessment: “Marc Roca had his weakest performance last night since he arrived at Betis and it was noticed that he is not central and that he is not used to playing there either. Sometimes he was seen out of place, other times badly placed – all fruit of not being his natural or habitual position.”
The Spanish midfielder left Elland Road in the summer as there was a clause in his contract that could be triggered in the event of relegation.
The criteria was that his new club will have to foot all of his wages, which in hindsight has been beneficial for Leeds as they’ve not paid him a single pound and have seen Ethan Ampadu and Glen Kamara dominate in the middle of the park.
Roca’s lacklustre performance for Betis, as highlighted in their 3-2 defeat against Rangers, accentuates the reasoning behind Leeds United not missing the midfielder.
Despite the Spanish side’s high expectations and Roca’s positional struggles leading to defensive lapses, it’s evident that the midfielder has not adapted seamlessly to his new environment.
The criticisms from outlets like ABC and Diario de Sevilla underline Roca’s subpar display, with comments pointing to discomfort and misplacement on the field.
Under the management of Daniel Farke, the Whites have evolved and found success without Roca in their ranks.
The team’s progress and achievements without the midfielder signal that they have moved on from his presence.
Even if Leeds were to secure promotion, integrating Roca back into the first team might disrupt the established dynamics and cohesion.
The club’s continued success and growth suggest that the current squad, shaped by Farke, has found a rhythm that does not necessarily include or rely on Roca’s contributions.
