Every Premier League game puts pressure on Leeds United, says Marcelo Bielsa ahead of Newcastle United clash - YEP 17/9/21
Marcelo Bielsa says the pressure facing Leeds United in tonight’s game at St James’ Park is ‘not superior’ to any of the games they have already played.
By Flora Snelson
The Whites hunt their first win of the season on Friday
evening against a Newcastle side who are seeking the same.
As Magpies coach Steve Bruce faces questions over his
future, most supporters remain patient with the widely-trusted Marcelo Bielsa
after a sluggish start.
The anxiety rumbling in some corners of the Leeds United
fanbase is a consequence of the high bar Bielsa set last season, by the
impressive early progress made on the Whites’ return to the Premier League,
which has not been repeated at the second time of asking.
This time last year, Leeds had won two of their first four
games, held Manchester City to a draw and come very close to snatching
something from the title holders Liverpool. By all accounts, the Whites were
punching well above their weight as top-flight newcomers.
It is worth remarking, however, that the two sides Leeds
took early victories from, Fulham and Sheffield United, never looked like
escaping the basement last season.
As such, the nature of the opponents Leeds have faced so far
this term - of which three teams are in the top four - makes the two points
taken from four games a respectable outcome. But to give weight to such an
excuse marks out struggling Newcastle as a must-win game, a narrative which
Marcelo Bielsa is keen to swerve.
In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Marcelo
Bielsa addressed the ‘test’ facing his players at St James’ Park as they
continue the search for their first win of the season.
"So far this season we have played against Manchester
United, Liverpool and Everton who are all high up in the table,” said Bielsa.
“And we played an opponent like Burnley who was also in need
of points like us.”
The Argentine was handed a tough start to the season, and he
knows it, though he is adamant that no one gets an easy ride in the Premier
League.
“The difficulty of the next game is not superior to the
games that I have just singled out,” he said.
“And I can assure you that no games played in the league
will allow you to go for long periods of the competition without finding a game
without any pressure."