Marcelo Bielsa reflects on factors in deciding whether Leeds United captain Liam Cooper starts against Tottenham

MARCELO Bielsa will consider what is best both for his team and for Liam Cooper in deciding whether Leeds United's returning captain starts against Tottenham Hotspur.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Centre-back Cooper is back available for Saturday's Premier League clash at home to Spurs having completed a three-game suspension served for his straight red card in last month's 2-1 victory against Manchester City.

Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk have formed the axis at the heart of the Whites defence in Cooper's absence and head coach Bielsa says there is much to consider in assessing if Cooper comes straight back into the side.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cooper was sent off deep into the first half of last month's clash at the Etihad with Leeds 1-0 up but United fought back from conceding an equaliser to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory.

BACK AVAILABLE: Leeds United captain Liam Cooper, second left, pictured before his dismissal in the 2-1 victory at Manchester City. Photo by Tim Keeton - Pool/Getty Images.BACK AVAILABLE: Leeds United captain Liam Cooper, second left, pictured before his dismissal in the 2-1 victory at Manchester City. Photo by Tim Keeton - Pool/Getty Images.
BACK AVAILABLE: Leeds United captain Liam Cooper, second left, pictured before his dismissal in the 2-1 victory at Manchester City. Photo by Tim Keeton - Pool/Getty Images.

The Whites then held both Liverpool and Manchester United to draws at Elland Road before falling to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at relegation-battling Brighton.

Assessing how big a decision it was to bring his captain back into the XI and what factors he was taking into account, Bielsa reasoned: "Pascal and Llorente have shown that they can live up to the level that the previous people who have played in this position were playing at.

"But as you well know, there are other factors that are taken into consideration when you look at each game.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"And in any case what I always consider is what is best for the team and what is best for each player that participates because there is nothing more important than to look at the participation of each player.

"Every time you take a decision you don't only think about the good of the team, you consider each individual.

"Being a starter doesn't just generate a hierarchy within the players available so it doesn't favour any player to be in a starting position if they are not in conditions to respond at their best level."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890.

We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app.

With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.

For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you Laura Collins

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.