Big reasons not to question Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa's style - David Prutton

LEEDS United's defeat to Manchester United last weekend was chastening to say the least.
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It was a poor start by Leeds compounded by two very well taken goals by Scott McTominay to start with.

Defensively, Leeds could have done much better for the Bruno Fernandes goal and the Victor Lindelof header which was another goal from a set piece.

There’s much to be worked on.

PRODUCTIVE: Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa's style of play has already taken Leeds United to the Premier League and produced results like the 3-0 win at Aston Villa, above. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.PRODUCTIVE: Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa's style of play has already taken Leeds United to the Premier League and produced results like the 3-0 win at Aston Villa, above. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.
PRODUCTIVE: Whites head coach Marcelo Bielsa's style of play has already taken Leeds United to the Premier League and produced results like the 3-0 win at Aston Villa, above. Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images.
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People are pointing to the statistics of dominating possession and the chances created, not just for Leeds but for both teams.

But after a hiding such as that there’s no solace to be sought from looking at stats because you have played your biggest rivals on a level pegging for the first time in 16 years and been found clearly wanting.

It’s a brutal reminder of what this season is about which is not getting carried away with yourselves.

It’s about being humble enough to know that with Leeds United it’s wonderful to be back in the Premier League but there’s a long way for them to go to be re-established in the Premier League.

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Leeds are now 14th after 14 games and seven points clear of the dropzone which is not bad overall given the performances that we have seen, the results that we have seen and the fact that you have got to balance that out over the course of the season.

That’s not being defeatist or describing a club that does not have a lot of ambition because it does.

Leeds are a very ambitious club that wants to be back at the top table which it took such a long time to do.

But the evolution of that should not be rushed and fans should not be impatient for it because all along we have said that you don’t want to be going too overboard when it’s great and nor do you want to be too down when it’s not.

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I don’t think it helps coming up against a Manchester United side that have had fingers pointed at their manager with questions over whether he is the right man for the job and if he has the requisite skill sets to lead a club of that size. He answered that emphatically.

Maybe Ole Gunnar Solskjaer got a bit carried away saying it could have been 12-4 but from Leeds’ point of view it’s one of them where you have got to take your medicine, get on with it and move onto the next game.

Given where Leeds are and what we have seen so far it’s a case same again for the next portion of the season and if Leeds were to finish seven points above the bottom three then it’s party time I think.

The defeat to Manchester United had people raising questions about Leeds’ open approach and style which has bred them success by getting them into the Premier League.

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Marcelo Bielsa is the type of man that sticks to his guns and at Leeds those guns have worked up to this point.

Far be it from me to suggest a change of style because he has got an infinitely better amount of productivity from his players playing that style.

But you have got to be extremely wary if you are playing against.

The current incarnation of the Man United team is not on a level footing with the all time great Man United sides but they spectacularly reminded people that on their day they can do people serious damage.

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For Leeds, Burnley now throws up a different set of circumstances but another tough Premier League football match.

Burnley are a team who know exactly how to manoeuvre their way from trouble in the Premier League so let’s not underestimate what Sean Dyche cam do with that bench of players.

They had a sluggish start to the season but make no mistake, this a tough, tough fixture for Leeds.

United have got to make sure that early goals aren’t given away and that concentration is kept at all times when it comes to making sure they give themselves the best possible chance to get something from the game because the Premier League is tough.

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It’s about Leeds doing what they can do to the best of their abilities but respecting what the opposition can chuck at them as well.

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Thank you Laura Collins