Leeds United have began the 2021/22 Premier League campaign with one win from eight matches. It is a far-cry from last season’s form which saw the Whites claim three wins and in their opening six games. Marcelo Bielsa’s men have been hit hard by injuries, but that is little different from the early portion of 2020/21 when Luke Ayling was forced to deputise at centre-back for several matches. Speaking ahead of the Whites’ ninth game of the season, at home to a resurgent Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bielsa gave a reserved, but impassioned address to the attending journalists.
Marcelo Bielsa said: “There are a lot of arguments. I think the way of playing is generic and it’s very difficult to imagine the game in a different type of way. We try to have the ball more than the opponent. We try to take the ball from our half to the opponent’s half without putting the ball too much at risk and try that the possession in the opponent’s half generates danger, so that’s part of all models. What can change is whether you’re the protagonist or you speculate. I always choose to be the protagonist and not to speculate,” referring to Leeds’ insistence playing on the front foot. Of course I don’t ignore that the last game wasn’t just another game [Southampton 1-0 Leeds]. It was a game that we were very far from playing how we tried to play and the goal was produced through a counter-attack, which is also one of the other critics the team receives.”
Bielsa’s admission was an honest one: the team did not perform in their most recent fixture to the standard he would have liked. However, the 66-year-old will always attribute poor performances on the pitch to the carrying out of his own duties in selecting the team, analysis of the opponent and so forth. He has already cut an apologetic figure in post-match press conferences this season, following defeats to Manchester United and West Ham, linking the team’s inability to impact the game favourably, with his own shortcomings.
Marcelo Bielsa said; “As I am the main person who wants to know what our errors are, every chance that we suffer, if we go we suffer, I interpret it, I classify it, I position it with regards to the different ways of receiving danger; long distance shots, set-pieces, chances coming from throw-ins in our half, chances where the play is built and also counter-attacks.”
While the coach rarely becomes animated, the Argentine’s intonation and the sheer length of his answers in this latest press conference indicated he felt there is still a need to convince critics of his methods. Many Leeds supporters will exempt the 66-year-old due to his contribution in the deliverance of Premier League football to baying Elland Road audiences once again. However, the coach did admit to concern over Leeds’ physical output in their most recent defeat.
When asked: ‘Does Southampton’s ability to outrun Leeds for the first time [with 11 men] in the Premier League sadden you as much as goals conceded?’
Marcelo Bielsa replied: “It’s one of the things that I observed with worry.”
