Marcelo Bielsa sticks to Leeds United's routine despite new EFL guidelines

There were a number of key talking points from Cardiff City as Leeds United fell to a 2-0 defeat.
Leeds United's players emerge at the Cardiff City stadium. (PA)Leeds United's players emerge at the Cardiff City stadium. (PA)
Leeds United's players emerge at the Cardiff City stadium. (PA)

Leeds United's trip to Cardiff City last weekend was the first matchday with the EFL's new 20-man squad guidelines.

As part of the temporary rule changes teams can now make five changes across the 90 minutes but only three stoppages for substitutions are permitted.

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Marcelo Bielsa opted to stick to the normal three changes against the Bluebirds - while Neil Harris used four substitutes - but his alteration of right-back Luke Ayling was the change which raised most eyebrows.

The defender's emphatic finish against Huddersfield Town - the final game before the season was put on hold - left Leeds fans stunned as his volley crashed off the underside of the bar at Elland Road.

Ayling had enjoyed a rich vein of form before the promotion race was halted in mid-March, having driven on from the right side of defence to bag three goals from his last five outings.

The 28-year-old, though, was the first to depart as the campaign resumed on Sunday as he was replaced by Gjanni Alioski with the Whites chasing the game in south Wales.

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Bielsa's use of full-backs has always been to have them as an extra attacker helping build forward with overlapping runs and movements in behind the opposition defence.

Stuart Dallas - a natural winger - has been converted under the Argentine as has Alioski and it is perhaps for this reason that the 63-year-old made the switch.

Ian Poveda also stepped off the bench for his United senior debut, suggesting that the January signing may yet have a role to play for the final eight games, as did midfielder Robbie Gotts who was seeing his first league minutes after a first senior appearance at Arsenal in the FA Cup in January.

It remains to be seen whether Bielsa will take advantage of the new rules, but his use of a minimal squad with little bench experience suggests otherwise.