General view of the Elland Road, home of Leeds United on March 18, 2020 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)General view of the Elland Road, home of Leeds United on March 18, 2020 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
General view of the Elland Road, home of Leeds United on March 18, 2020 in Leeds, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

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Leeds United made a less than ideal return from the international break last week, when they were defeated 1-0 away to Southampton.

The Whites finished the weekend in 17th place, with just one win from their opening eight matches leaving them hanging perilously above the relegation zone.

Speaking after the game, Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa contended: “The defeat was fair, it was justified in the first half. Even if they scored in the second half.

“We didn't play well evidently, it was difficult for us to play out and prevent them from being fluid. It was difficult for us to recover the ball in the middle of the pitch. We didn't prevent their possession from becoming promising attacks. Evidently our game didn't look like the one we usually play.

“In the second half, it's not that we played well but in the first half we were overcome and in the second half we couldn't overcome them. The differences in the first half were shortened in the second. Normally when a team loses energy that is put into evidence as the game develops.

“I did see some differences in potency and power in some parts of the pitch.”

He added: “The message [at half-time] was exactly to describe the problems and to propose a way in which we could solve them and I thought I had to insist with the players that started the game.

“In the second half the differences were shortened, it's not that we dominated but we stopped being dominated. In one of the few moments we managed an even game, they managed to score.

“I insist without playing well, the differences in the first half deserved the victory of the opponent.”

Take a look at all the latest news from the Premier League, as the reaction to last weekend's exhilarating action continues:

“We didn't play well evidently, it was difficult for us to play out and prevent them from being fluid. It was difficult for us to recover the ball in the middle of the pitch. We didn't prevent their possession from becoming promising attacks. Evidently our game didn't look like the one we usually play.