Marcelo Bielsa puts Leeds United victory at Manchester City into perspective

MARCELO Bielsa says Leeds United's first season back in the Premier League will be judged on finishing position and not particular stand-out displays.
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Newly-promoted Leeds recorded the best result of Bielsa's tenure in Saturday's clash at runaway leaders Manchester City as a brace from Stuart Dallas earned the Whites a 2-1 victory despite playing over half of the game with ten men.

Whites captain Liam Cooper was shown a straight-red card for a high challenge on Gabriel Jesus in first-half stoppage time, just four minutes after Dallas had fired Leeds in front.

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City eventually equalised in the 76th minute through Ferran Torres but United still hit back to net a 91st-minute winner as Dallas bagged his second of the game.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa during Saturday's superb 2-1 victory against Manchester City at the Etihad. Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.THE BIGGER PICTURE: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa during Saturday's superb 2-1 victory against Manchester City at the Etihad. Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa during Saturday's superb 2-1 victory against Manchester City at the Etihad. Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

City had won 26 of their last 27 games in league and cup and Pep Guardiola's side are considered by many to be the best side in Europe as they chase an amazing quadruple trophy haul of Champions League, Premier League EFL Cup and FA Cup.

Leeds received huge praise for their victory - but Bielsa says it is ultimately his side's finishing position that matters most.

The Whites currently have 45 points and sit tenth in the table with seven games left ahead of next Monday night's return to action at defending champions Liverpool who are sixth and only seven points ahead of the Whites.

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Leeds are only four points off seventh and are 19 points clear of the dropzone.

Asked where the victory against City ranked in his career and in United's season as a whole, Bielsa reasoned: "It's part of Leeds' campaign in the Premier League.

"The position that Leeds obtain in the Premier League this year will be above any one performance.

"Of course for the players to have been able to overcome the difficulties of the game, it adds value to each of the participants in the game.

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"It's not the same to play well and to win in a game that is successful than when you play in a game that is less successful.

"But I think the effect is over the players individually and as a team and then after it's the evaluation in the table where each team finishes."

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Thank you Laura Collins