Bielsa makes glaring admission over Leeds’ season; hints at broken promises - Team Talk 2/1/22
Rob McCarthy
Marcelo Bielsa admits that his decision to stay at Leeds
this season has not worked out, while also hinting at broken promises over
strengthening his squad.
The Argentine has so far refused to use a crippling injury
crisis and Covid as an excuse for his team’s tough first half of the season.
Indeed, Bielsa insists that he only signed on for another campaign as he was
convinced his team could do better than last term’s impressive ninth-placed
finish.
While admitting that his tactics have sometimes been found
wanting, Bielsa also appeared to vent his frustration that he could not
strengthen his Leeds squad in areas he felt his side needed to.
Bielsa said: “I focus on the performance of the team, and
the weaknesses that we have shown were precisely the ones I had worked on to elevate
us from last season.
“So when I made the decision to work here for one more year,
it was because I had the conviction that the team could be better.
“That depended on some decisions and developments. I wanted
the developments to help the team to grow – but I haven’t achieved it.
“The situations we have had to go through, I wasn’t able to
resolve them as I thought I would.”
Leeds are currently embroiled in a relegation fight, having
won only three of their first 18 games. They take on fellow strugglers Burnley
on Sunday in what is already a big six-pointer.
Bielsa will once again have a depleted squad to pick from
for the Clarets clash. However, he may be forced to throw Patrick Bamford back
into after his latest injury absence.
Leeds have not played since losing 4-1 to Arsenal on
December 18 after Covid cut through their squad over the festive period. And
Bielsa is not sure how all the postponed games will fit in, without extending
the season.
The 66-year-old added: “The reality that we’re facing is not
only ours. But I can’t say that a healthy player is in ideal condition to
compete. Especially when they haven’t competed for one month or three weeks.
You need a period to reach that high level.
“But that’s the reality. The teams we are coming up against
have similar problems.”
The Premier League season is currently due to finish by May
22, but Bielsa thinks that is optimistic.
He added: “We know how many games have been suspended up
until now. But we don’t know how many games will be suspended in the future.
“I don’t know how the authorities are going to manage the
situation with the time that they have available.
“Clearly, we can’t think in the middle of a pandemic that
the situation is normal.”
