Less 'tactical mysteries' says Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United head to Tottenham Hotspur

Bielsa faced questions about his side’s open approach and style of play after Leeds were picked apart in the recent 6-2 defeat at Manchester United but the Whites head coach was quick to defend the way Leeds set up.

Leeds have since responded by recording back-to-back victories with a 1-0 triumph at home to Burnley followed by Tuesday night’s 5-0 romp at West Brom.

The wins moved Leeds up to 11th and United’s first assignment of 2021 now comes against Jose Mourinho’s seventh-placed Spurs side who are fourth favourites for the title and blessed with the attacking prowess of Kane and Son.

The duo sit joint second and seventh respectively in the Premier Division’s Golden Boot race having netted 20 of Tottenham’s 26 goals so far this season.

Bielsa admits Mourinho’s side are stacked with talented players and the United coach said Saturday's contest was more about Tottenham’s threats as a team than any great tactical intrigue.

“The battles are every time less tactical,” said Bielsa, asked how much he was relishing the tactical challenge of facing Mourinho.

“The games have two basic structures, where you wait in your own half or you go for them in their half.

“Or you go from one box to the other accumulating passes or go long and that’s how you attack.

“As a result there are less tactical mysteries than we think.

“With respect to Tottenham and the way they’re playing, they’re a very difficult team to face, in every position they have solid good players, they have options, they have strikers who can unbalance and they’re very clear on how they want to play.

“It’s a team in which you can clearly see the influence of the manager, they’re very competitive.”

Having netted five times in Tuesday night’s romp at West Brom, Bielsa’s Whites have now scored four more goals than today’s hosts with United’s tally of 30 being the fourth best in the division, albeit with Leeds having played one game more than most of the sides in the top ten.

Only leaders Liverpool, second-placed Manchester United and sixth-placed Chelsea have outscored Leeds though United also have the second worst defensive record in the division.

Assessing just how freely Leeds were scoring, Bielsa reasoned: “Our team gives a great importance to the offensive game.

“The club has made important investments to improve our offensive game by incorporating Raphinha and Rodrigo.

“We managed to keep Helder (Costa) and Jack (Harrison).

“(Patrick) Bamford is scoring regularly.

“The club has also invested in the defensive part which is needed to attack - in (Robin) Koch and (Diego) Llorente.

“We have been helped a lot by the president for the development of the team. “They are important investments which allow the team to grow.

“There is also a base in a team to decide the game better in both boxes.

“The games are resolved in both boxes. “What happens in both boxes depends on what happens in the rest of the pitch.

“It has been more difficult for us to consolidate ourselves defensively.

“Our offensive game has been less difficult to achieve.”

Asked if United’s last two performances have shown that Leeds have evolved in being able to deal with defences that sit in, which may be the case against Spurs, Bielsa said: “Every game has different moments.

“In the last game against Burnley we attacked in the first half but in the second we had to defend in our own area.

“The West Brom game was similar throughout the 90 minutes.

“Tottenham have developed a way of playing that is very consolidated and very firm.

“In all of their lines they have players that can hurt you, whether in defence or attack.

“One of the most positive things about our next opponent is that the system and the way they play is correspondent to the players they have.

“For us every game is a new challenge.”

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/i-dont-know-him-jose-mourinho-plays-down-past-battles-marcelo-bielsa-tottenham-hotspur-await-leeds-united-test-3083231

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Thank you Laura Collins