Entertainment and goals galore but Marcelo Bielsa sees inconsistency to be eradicated in Leeds United's start to Premier League life

Leeds United’s action-packed see-saw Premier League encounters have thrilled supporters and neutrals alike but Marcelo Bielsa is keen to have a simpler life in the top flight.
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The Whites arrived back in the big time with a bang, coming out on the wrong side of a 4-3 scoreline against against champions Liverpool, before beating Fulham by the same scoreline.

Goals have not flowed as easily since but both their 1-0 win at Sheffield United and a 1-1 draw with Manchester City saw the Whites go toe-to-toewith their opponents.

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Bielsa is all for entertaining the people of Leeds but his preferred method is dominating possession of the football and, where possible, making games one-way traffic.

“There are a lot of ways to analyse football,” said the Argentine.

“There are two things that are a must, you shouldn’t give the ball to the opponent and they can’t take it off you.”

When he looks at the first four games of Leeds’ season, games that have yielded a seven-point haul that any Whites fan would have gladly taken before it all kicked off, he sees inconsistency.

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“It’s a start this season which has had its up and downs,” he said.

UP AND DOWN - Marcelo Bielsa wants Leeds United to be more consistent in every game, regardless of the identity of their Premier League opposition. Pic: GettyUP AND DOWN - Marcelo Bielsa wants Leeds United to be more consistent in every game, regardless of the identity of their Premier League opposition. Pic: Getty
UP AND DOWN - Marcelo Bielsa wants Leeds United to be more consistent in every game, regardless of the identity of their Premier League opposition. Pic: Getty

“What we’re looking for is to be more regular throughout the game as a whole against all types of opposition.”

Leeds were the biggest fish in the Championship pond, where their one-approach-fits-all ethos made them a promotion contender in Bielsa’s first season and title winners in his second.

The leap in the standard of opposition has changed nothing about the way Leeds will play, as they have proved against Liverpool and City.

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As Pablo Hernandez admits, it won’t be as easy to carry out the Argentine’s instructions, but they are now ingrained in the squad’s psyche.

“We will continue with the same style and idea,” said the midfielder.

“Obviously we know it’s more difficult because we will face better teams. I think it is our mentality. It doesn’t matter who is in front [of us]. We need to try to impose our style and we will try to do this in the Premier League.”