'Maximum ambition' as Marcelo Bielsa looks to 'fix' Leeds United and boot even further clear in automatic promotion spots

In taking on Saturday’s hosts Fulham, the Whites head coach also says his Whites are faced with the perfect acid test to “fix” their defensive issues experienced at Elland Road last weekend.

Bielsa’s men looked certain to make it eight Championship victories in succession through last Saturday’s hosting of Cardiff City in which United blitzed the Bluebirds in an attacking frenzy to race into a 3-0 lead.

Cardiff, though, responded to score with their only three shots on target to nick a 3-3 draw as United blew the chance to move 12 points clear in the automatic promotion places.

Leeds are instead now ten points clear of third.

Saturday’s hosts Fulham are rated one of the biggest threats to the top two - even if the Cottagers are 12 points behind in sixth - but Bielsa is focused on extending the ten-point gap to the chasing pack rather than protecting it.

“We don’t have to consider this advantage,” said Bielsa.

“What we have to do is to try and increase this gap.

“We lost two points that we should have won (against Cardiff).

“What we have is maximum ambition.”

Assessing what he expected from Fulham both at the weekend as a player in the automatic promotion trace, Bielsa reasoned: “Fulham is a similar team as us.

“The value we had last season are their values they have in this season.

“When I talk about values I talk about possession, chances, quantity of shooting.

“They are one of the best teams in the Championship and for us this match is a great challenge for us.

“We need to fix our position in the opposite half with a great opponent.”