Marcelo Bielsa on Michael O'Neill's impact at Stoke City and Leeds United 'competitive tension'

The Potters had failed to score more than twice in 80 games before O’Neill’s November appointment but have managed it seven times in his 26 games in charge.

They arrive in Yorkshire on the back of a 4-0 rout of Barnsley at the weekend and Bielsa categorises them as a team whose attacking ability is one of their most prevalent strengths, thanks to the impact made by O’Neill.

Although Sam Clucas [10] is the only Potter to have hit double figures in the Championship, Tyrese Campbell has nine league goals, James McClean six and Nick Powell five.

Leeds themselves have just Patrick Bamford [15] in double figures, with goalscoring support from Pablo Hernandez and Jack Harrison on six apiece.

“The offensive play of the opponent is one of their more positive qualities,” said Bielsa.

“I think all the characteristics that have impact in one team, I link with the impact of the manager of the team.

“The manager gets their players to look better, they can show their ability.

“We know players are the most important in football. The manager’s job is to try to make all the players work collectively to try to get every player to show what he knows how to do.

“They are a creative team, their players have clear technical resources. In some way they respect a common idea of play. But it’s obvious they have impact individually.”

Stoke are fighting to stay clear of the drop zone, while Leeds know a win will put them just seven points from automatic promotion.

Brentford’s come-from-behind victory over Charlton brought the Bees to within three points of the Championship leading Whites and kept up the pressure on Bielsa’s men.

Even before that victory, the Argentine regarded Thomas Frank’s side as a ‘very important’ opponent to consider, given their perfect record since the restart.

But having admitted after the win over Blackburn on Saturday, when he was increasingly animated on the touchline as the game wore on, that the significance of the games requires full focus and the removal of each and every distraction, Bielsa insists his players know themselves the frame of mind they need for the run-in.

“I don’t think our players are relaxed,” he said.

“There is a competitive tension that is very important. All of us know which is the ideal mood to compete. Players know about that more than anyone. They are free to build this mood regarding the match.”