Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa fires Newcastle United warning after 'tranquil' addition to camp

Leeds are continuing to battle against a large number of injuries but approach Saturday’s Premier League hosting of Newcastle following a strong start to 2022.

The Whites had nine players injured and Diego Llorente suspended for last Sunday’s clash at West Ham but left the capital with an impressive 3-2 victory as Jack Harrison bagged his first senior hat-trick.

The triumph left Leeds nine points clear of the drop zone and ten points ahead of this afternoon’s visitors Newcastle who sit second-bottom having bagged just one victory all season.

Buoyed by successes against West Ham and Burnley, Leeds are now chasing a third-straight league win but Bielsa says the “shine” of United’s recent results would soon lose its gloss given the wrong outcome against the Magpies.

“The next game is always the next thing on our minds,” said Bielsa.

“But it is true that a victory like that always improves the mood.

“To prepare a game with the tranquillity of a victory is better than doing it without, but the most important thing is always the next game.

“To have won the last game doesn’t give you any guarantees in the next one.

“To lose the next one is to take away some of the shine of the previous victory.

“So we always try to lean on what happened but always looking forward to the next."

Asked how he viewed the division’s relegation battle - and whether Leeds were still in it - Bielsa reasoned: “We have to see how many points are in play, see what games the other teams have.

“You have to see in the succession of results which see tendencies - positive or negative - of each team.

“So after half of the season has passed, to discard any evolution or involution of each team it is not convenient, especially in a league that is so difficult.”

Providing his thoughts on Eddie Howe's start as Magpies boss - and how different Newcastle could be following the signings of Chris Wood and Kieran Trippier, Bielsa reasoned: "He’s found a system, a habitual group of players, an eleven which repeats itself regularly, and he’s evened the team out in all of the games, they have been close to every opponent in all of the games they’ve played.

"This all talks positively about the job that he is doing.

"With respect to the players that they’ve brought in, their positions are very specific.

"A right full-back and a centre-forward. It’s their centre-forward who comes to replace the player who usually plays in that position.

"They’re both classic centre-forwards, even if they have different characteristics, they both play as centre-forwards.

"The same with their right full-back, who plays at different heights down the right hand side.

"Those two signings are, from my point of view - and only with the rush to answer your question - because it is very difficult to interpret the opponent’s coach, and it is also inconvenient - but from my point of view, the players don’t alter the way Newcastle play, but the individualities who enrich a squad."

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