Jack Harrison reflects on Marcelo Bielsa's work during international break as Leeds United look to get 'back on track'

WINGER JACK Harrison is optimistic that the November international break came at a good time for Leeds United to rectify mistakes and get Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites “back on track.”
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Leeds will return from a two-week pause to the Premier League season with Sunday’s Elland Road clash against Arsenal which United approach sat 15th following consecutive 4-1 defeats at home to Leicester City and at Crystal Palace.

Newly-promoted United had previously taken ten points from their first six games including a draw at home to Manchester City and Harrison believes the November internationals will have provided the perfect “breather” for the Whites to right the wrongs and kick on over the next few months.

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Amidst a much altered campaign in the global battle against coronavirus, Leeds will now face 21 Premier League games in succession without being disrupted by internationals with the next international break not taking place until the end of March.

OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK: From Leeds United winger Jack Harrison. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK: From Leeds United winger Jack Harrison. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.
OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK: From Leeds United winger Jack Harrison. Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images.

The current season has already featured three international breaks with one in each of the last three months.

“I think it’s been a bit complicated this year, especially with covid and everything, trying to work in all of the international games,” said Harrison, speaking to BBC Radio Leeds.

“I can understand the difficulties that some people have had to face in making these decisions.

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“But maybe the international break came at a good time just so we can take a breather and take a step outside of the box and look for ways that we can improve on.

“It’s been good for us to have this little break but I think everyone here now is ready to get the league going again and hopefully we can get back on track.”

Reflecting on Bielsa’s work during the two-week break in a video interview on United's Twitter page, Harrison said: “He has had a lot of time to review not only the Crystal Palace game but the game before that as well.

“Obviously losing two games 4-1 is something that we have to review and analyse and see which aspects of the game that we can improve on.

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“He’s had a lot of time to do that over the international break and we have been working as a team and preparing in these last two weeks to rectify those mistakes to make sure we find ways to avoid that going forward.”

United have been the subject of huge discussion in the media following their start to life back in the Premier League with the Whites approaching the Elland Road clash against Leicester City at the beginning of the month knowing a win would put them third.

The Whites had earlier given champions Liverpool a fright in a 4-3 loss at Anfield and United particularly dazzled in a 3-0 romp at then leaders Aston Villa.

Consecutive 4-1 defeats have since led to plenty of pundits questioning United’s open style of play but Harrison says his squad remain confident in what they do best.

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Harrison reasoned: “There’s always going to be people talking, all the pundits, and I think it is important for us as a club to stay level-headed and not get too caught up with everything else that is being said in the media.

“We know as a team what we need to do to play our style of football, to be in the right mindset and we do a lot of analysis work to prepare for each game.

“I think as long as we continue doing that we have the right ideas in our minds and we are all on the same page as a team.

“I think we can be successful again going forward.

“It’s difficult to say when there are so many people saying so many different things but as long as we just focus on ourselves and don’t get too caught up in that I think we will be all right.”

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Thank you Laura Collins