Marcelo Bielsa on what Leeds United have worked on over the break, reveals in-depth defensive analysis

The Whites head coach has spoken to the media ahead of this weekend's clash with Arsenal.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Marcelo Bielsa says he has worked on correcting Leeds United's individual errors over the international break, revealing he has undertaken an in-depth analysis of his side's defensive woes.

The Whites saw a number of players leave West Yorkshire and feature for their countries over the November hiatus for club football.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Liam Cooper, Gjanni Alioski, Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich, Tyler Roberts and Robin Koch all exited the first team squad bubble at Elland Road to link up with their national teams.

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. (Getty)Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. (Getty)
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. (Getty)

Those who were left behind at Thorp Arch, though, have been working hard with United's head coach in recent weeks.

Bielsa admitted that it has been a difficult task finding the right training balance with senior players missing, but says work has been done individually in a bid to cut out mistakes.

"The international break does not allow for the evolution of the team," Bielsa said ahead of this weekend's clash with Arsenal.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It’s difficult to balance the training given the realities of everyone. The players who stay at Leeds can rest more. The ones who are with their national teams have less time to do so.

"The collective work is impossible to do as not everyone is here. We have looked to correct individual errors. We have incorporated young players to work with the first team."

Bielsa also lifted the lid on the analysis he has undertaken with a lengthy answer that spanned over 15 minutes during his pre-Gunners press conference.

Leeds boast the joint-worst defensive record in the Premier League this season and it is something the head coach has looked at in great detail to understand why.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We have conceded 17 goals," Bielsa said. "The team who has conceded the least has conceded nine goals.

"Of course I am obligated to look at our defensive performance. When you analyse you don't analyse numbers, you analyse the situations and if those situations were preventable.

"The defensive game obligates to avoid situations which are disadvantageous. Once the situation is planted you have to play, so when you analyse these situations you analyse whether you are at a disadvantage in these situations.

"When a coach wants to improve his team's defensive performance, he makes sure that his team is not in a disadvantageous position."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Bielsa also revealed he had broken down each zone in which Leeds have suffered defensively this season, from set-pieces to wide crosses, penalties and other areas such as own goals.

United's boss ultimately conceded that there is an element of risk in how his side set out to play with the high press and commitment to attack, which has contributed to the concession of goals this season, but said that improvements can be made to help battle the issue in preventable areas such as set-pieces.

"There are eight goals linked to things which we can't control, that our offensive style, our offensive game has sometimes consequences which causes us to suffer goals," Bielsa added.

"For example, if I was to tell you the two games in which we defended worst in was in the two games in which we received the most praise.

"Against Manchester City was the game we defended least well and against Liverpool in which we had plenty of defensive difficulties."

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.