Kemar Roofe explains 'chess' approach of Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa and Rangers boss Steven Gerrard

Former Whites striker Roofe is nearly three months into life under Gerrard at Rangers whom the forward joined from Anderlecht under former Manchester City star Vincent Kompany.

Roofe's switch to Anderlecht came after three seasons at Leeds and the legacy of the striker's one campaign under current Whites head coach Bielsa still lives on.

Speaking in an interview with Football CFB, Roofe was asked about the coaches and managers that have played a key role in his development with the striker hailing the impact of Bielsa, Kompany and Gerrard.

"He is not a manager but the main person is my dad, Glendon Roofe," said the former Whites striker.

"He is the one that started it and will be there until I finish my career. He is the one that has got and had the most influence on my career.

"The way I play and everything that I have learned in football is ninety percent from him and the rest is obviously experience and picking up things from coaches and other managers like Marcelo Bielsa, Vincent Kompany and Steven Gerrard.

Roofe added: "The way in which Marcelo Bielsa and Steven Gerrard see the game it is not 'let’s line up eleven against eleven and see what happens at the final whistle', it is not like that.

"Everything is thought out and there is a reason behind why we are doing it, actual tactics and we will train a certain way to help us in the next game.

"We will set up a certain way and players will get certain roles and jobs to do for different games so it’s like a game of chess basically.

"It is not always down to who works the hardest running wise or who is strongest or skillful there is a lot more to it such as formations, positions and how to actually play certain formations.

"There is so much behind it and there is a lot of thought that goes into it."

Reflecting on his time at Leeds, Roofe said: "I enjoyed my time at Leeds United a lot and I really like the club.

"Leeds United are a club that will stay close to my heart. They are a massive club with an excellent fan-base as well.

"It was a real journey it really was each year I improved and each year the team improved and also the relationship between myself and the fans improved and I understood them and what they wanted from me as a player as well.

"It helps because they are the ones that will encourage you the most on the pitch and give you that extra boost and motivation to go a little bit harder at times."

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Thank you Laura Collins