Is Marcelo Bielsa cracking up?
Has the pressure of managing Leeds finally caught up to him? Or has there been a bad batch in his latest deliver of mate tea? Tonight Leeds host West Brom in a clash that could have huge implications come the end of the season giving how well both teams have started, sitting 4th and 1st in the table respectively.
Speaking in his press conference yesterday, Bielsa spoke about the challenge that the Baggies pose to his side:
“West Brom have six players who have impact when they have possession, the two full-backs, the two wingers, the centre-forward and playmaker. As well as these six players, they have two defensive midfielders who manage the ball well. Out of all of the matches we have played so far, this opponent will be the most difficult opponent to defend against. We are always forced to win after one defeat more, we are playing against the top of the table at home and we always find reasons.”
Why is he talking about the defence when that clearly isn’t the issue? Leeds have conceded the fewest amount of goals so far this season, and the defence is doing so well that Ben White was named PFA Fans Player Of The Month. Leeds fans are clearly not concerned with what the defence is doing, they are concerned with the lack of action at the other end.
West Brom for instance have conceded ten goals this season? Should he not be talking about how weak and open they are at the back, and how we could be in a position to exploit them? Is he just doing this to cover up for the fact of how bad the forwards are in converting their chances in front of goal? To distract us away from the real problem if you will?
I’ll be watching tonight’s game with great interest, not to see how many times Ben White or Kalvin Phillips make a tackle, but whether or not Patrick Bamford will be able to find the back of the net, because that’s the real issue at Elland Road at the moment, regardless of what Bielsa is trying to say.
What about you? Are you happy that Bielsa is focusing on the defence ahead of tonight’s game? Or would you rather he sorted out Leeds’ problems with the forwards?