Dramatic second half fightback against Millwall was just Leeds United being Leeds United says Marcelo Bielsa

Nothing Marcelo Bielsa said at half-time brought about the dramatic second-half turnaround in United's 3-2 win over Millwall, according to the Argentine, it was just Leeds being Leeds.
Patrick Bamford celebrating with his team-mates after his two-goal heroics helped them to a 3-2 win over Millwall (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)Patrick Bamford celebrating with his team-mates after his two-goal heroics helped them to a 3-2 win over Millwall (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)
Patrick Bamford celebrating with his team-mates after his two-goal heroics helped them to a 3-2 win over Millwall (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)

They were 2-0 down at the break and heading for a fourth straight defeat, yet roared back to outplay the Lions and end the evening top of the Championship.

Bielsa could understand why questions would be asked about what happened at the break, but he just saw a side who created and wasted chances in the first half, taking their chances in the second.

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"It's not about what we said that made the change," said Bielsa.

"Maybe the match looked like it was strange but it's a copy of all our matches.

"A lot of chances to make three goals.

"In one half we had a lot of chances. We played very well in attack. It's very similar to the matches we are used to playing."

What impressed Bielsa about his side was how they stuck to the game plan, even when they got off to what he admitted was a rocky start.

"There was confusion in the first five minutes," he said.

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"I give value to our team because we kept our style and way of playing after the first five minutes. We had a very good 25 minutes and in the second half after we scored our last goal we continued playing in the same way whilst keeping the style.

"Of course we have to analyse what happened in the opening moments of the match. In the last minute of the first half we didn't have a chance. In the second half in some period we receive some chances from Millwall that we could've avoided. But this fact is in the performance overall was great."

Bielsa has not been adverse to big changes at half-time in previous games this season, but on this occasion stuck with the starting line-up and saw his faith rewarded.

"We didn't do a substitution because all of our players deserves to stay on the pitch," he said.

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"When we were losing I thought of Tyler Roberts but I didn't find a player to replace him with."

Leeds might not have changed their ways or their personnel in the second half, but the game did change in Bielsa's eyes.

The ease with which they could attack, thanks to spaces that opened up and invited them to pour forward and put balls into the box, was helpful.

"It was easier for us to attack," said Bielsa.

"The defensive shape of the opponent meant they had to put a lot of energy into it. After more minutes in the match we find more spaces. When the opponent has to attack when they are losing they are even wider. The difference between the two halves. It was more difficult to attack in the first, it was easier in the second."

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Patrick Bamford rediscovered his scoring touch, grabbing two goals in the second half, including the winner.

According to Bielsa, the pressure his striker was under from his critics was nothing compared to the demands he puts on himself.

"I am worried when the centre forward isn't in good condition to score in a match," he said.

"Bamford in every match he has four or five chances to score. The difference is that today he scored twice.

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"With the external pressure, the supporters are demanding of the players. When the supporters aren't satisfied with one player of the team we don't feel this pressure because the player's self demanding is superior."