Leeds United in their 'worst moment' in the Championship says Marcelo Bielsa after QPR defeat, but players did not drop below their level

Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United are in their 'worst moment' in the Championship after a 1-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers, but they can only reassure doubting supporters with what they do on the pitch.
Leeds United players respond furiously to QPR's controversial winner (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)Leeds United players respond furiously to QPR's controversial winner (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)
Leeds United players respond furiously to QPR's controversial winner (Pic: Bruce Rollinson)

The Argentine said Leeds were lacking efficiency in front of goal again today, creating many chances that they missed, including a Patrick Bamford penalty.

But there were other factors beyond their control at Loftus Road, and although he did not criticise referee Peter Bankes, it was clear Bielsa was making reference to Nahki Wells' handling the ball twice before scoring the winner.

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Leeds also had an early penalty shout when Helder Costa went down in the box under a Lee Wallace tackle.

"In football you have a lot of situations you cannot manage," said Bielsa.

"Sometimes those kind of situations damage a team or play in favour of a team. Today everything that you cannot manage in a match was against us."

Leeds, as his been their major issue this season, were wasteful in the opposition box but Bielsa does not believe it is down to a lack of confidence.

"I don't think that," said Bielsa.

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"But it is clear we lack efficiency to take advantage of all the chances we have. We need a lot of chances to score a goal. But I think that is not a lack of confidence or nerves or something like that.

"For example Bamford, our goalscorer, he scored several times after a bad period for him. I don't think this change was linked with him having more confidence.

"Our offensive play is a part of the team we would develop more. Clearly there are moments where we have a lack of efficiency. But I don't think this happens because we have a lack of confidence or good variety to the attack."

In summing up today's performance, Bielsa insisted each player played to a normal level and Leeds largely did what was asked of them by the head coach, bar of course finding the net. He did, however, lament the lack of success from the numerous free-kicks and corners awarded to the visitors and that none of his players were able to find sparkling form that could change a result that made it three straight defeats and one win in seven.

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"I think that the team played according to our style, what we are looking for," he said.

"Our style means trying to control the opponents' attack, I think we achieved that today. We played in the opposition half. We tried to make double or triple the chances of the opponent, also we got that.

"Of course there are things we wished that were different. For example our set-pieces, for example transfer our crosses in situations more dangerous.

"Players play below their level, in their regular level or above his own level. We didn't have today, players below his level, but we neither had players with a high level to unbalance the game. For developing the correct play, if all the players play regular it is enough. But in matches like today when it is difficult to score, sometimes you need individual performances that try to give a good answer to this kind of tough match.

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"But I insist on defending well, controlling the ball and making chances, we did that."

Another worry for Leeds is the red card shown to Kalvin Phillips late on, for a rash tackle on Geoff Cameron, particularly in light of the mystery that still surrounds Adam Forshaw's return to action.

"Kalvin is a very important player for us," said Bielsa.

"He never misses a game. It is a possibility we will have to replace him with an option. It is at the same time that Forshaw, the natural substitution, is not available. We know how to find solutions for this."

Bielsa spoke last week of a sense of doubt around the team and that isn't likely to subside after a result like this, but the Argentine said he would not try to sway supporters from their opinion with words.

"I always think matches are tough for us," he said.

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"What supporters see is the most important. I never try to change their mind, the match and our team is our way of answering the supporters. Of course we are in our worst moment in the Championship, we don't have to ask for anything from the supporters because we are obliged to offer them things and try to express ourselves through the play.

"If we have to explain what we do to try to change the mind of supporters, it is not correct. The supporters recognise the good moments of the team, so that means they do a good evaluation. After, the relation of always, result and performance, linking that is the way things worked."

Gaetano Berardi missed today's game through injury but Bielsa expects him back quickly.