Marcelo Bielsa makes frank admission as Leeds United boss reflects on 'resolving' London curse

MARCELO Bielsa is glad that Leeds United's London curse is finally "resolved" and now hopes his second win in the capital arrives rather quicker than the first.
By Lee Sobot
Published 23rd Mar 2021, 12:14 BST
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Leeds are two days into the March international break, having signed off for the month by finally ending a long London hoodoo.

As a team, United had gone 16 games in the capital without a victory approaching Friday night's Premier League clash at Fulham and 15 of those fixtures had come under head coach Bielsa.

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Following a 2-0 defeat at Fulham under Paul Heckingbottom in April 2018, Bielsa’s first game in London came via the Championship trip to Millwall of September 2018 in which Jack Harrison struck an 89th-minute equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw.

Fourteen more visits to the capital then yielded 13 defeats and just one more solitary point in the 1-1 draw at Brentford of February 2020.

But goals from Patrick Bamford and Raphinha at Fulham on Friday finally gave Bielsa his first win in the 'Big Smoke' in what was United's final visit to London of the 2020-21 campaign.

Asked about finally sealing a first win in London and how welcome that was, Bielsa told Sky Sports: "They talk a lot about this situation and we are glad it's resolved.

"We hope it doesn't last that long again."

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CAPITAL GAIN: Marcelo Bielsa, right, heads towards Fulham boss Scott Parker after Friday night's 2-1 triumph at Fulham brought his win in London as Leeds United head coach. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.CAPITAL GAIN: Marcelo Bielsa, right, heads towards Fulham boss Scott Parker after Friday night's 2-1 triumph at Fulham brought his win in London as Leeds United head coach. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.
CAPITAL GAIN: Marcelo Bielsa, right, heads towards Fulham boss Scott Parker after Friday night's 2-1 triumph at Fulham brought his win in London as Leeds United head coach. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.

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Related topics:Marcelo BielsaLondonFulhamSky SportsPremier LeagueBrentfordRaphinha