Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United will not cut their Cloth accordingly, even for Manchester City

THEY couldn't, could they?
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Not at Manchester City. Not in the form they are in.

Twenty six wins out of the last 27 games.

Looking at City's form on a site like Soccerbase is just a long list of Ws.

US AGAIN: Leeds United held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in October's clash at Elland Road as the Whites celebrated an equalising goal from Rodrigo, above. Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.US AGAIN: Leeds United held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in October's clash at Elland Road as the Whites celebrated an equalising goal from Rodrigo, above. Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.
US AGAIN: Leeds United held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in October's clash at Elland Road as the Whites celebrated an equalising goal from Rodrigo, above. Photo by CATHERINE IVILL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images.

Leeds might have caused some big surprises this year, but this would be something else.

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But don't be surprised if Marcelo Bielsa's side give it a damn good go on a weekend when the bookies will be hoping for surprises more than ever come tea time in the world's greatest steeplechase at Aintree.

The 2021 Grand National takes place at Aintree at 5.15pm this evening but the day is about one thing and one thing only from a Leeds United perspective, the toughest test of the season away at runaway leaders Manchester City in a 12.30pm kick-off.

A horse called Cloth Cap is a red hot favourite to win the Grand National but nowhere near as hot as City.

LEED-ING THE WAY: The nation will be cheering on hot favourite Cloth Cap, above, in this evening's Grand National but Leeds United have an almighty hurdle to clear at Manchester City first. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images.LEED-ING THE WAY: The nation will be cheering on hot favourite Cloth Cap, above, in this evening's Grand National but Leeds United have an almighty hurdle to clear at Manchester City first. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images.
LEED-ING THE WAY: The nation will be cheering on hot favourite Cloth Cap, above, in this evening's Grand National but Leeds United have an almighty hurdle to clear at Manchester City first. Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images.

Leeds might have held Pep Guardiola's side to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road in an epic contest back in October but even Whites skipper Liam Cooper admits that City are now a "different animal" six months on.

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A different animal cantering to the title in a one-horse race, never mind a 40-runner race at Aintree.

Yet Cooper also insists Leeds will once again be doing what they know best and going all out for victory in City's own glamorous back yard with no thoughts of shutting up shop or playing for a draw.

It's the Leeds way, the Bielsa way and given that United will set out to attack, one way or the other, today's lunch time kick-off should be rather entertaining to watch.

Better still, there is no pressure on the Whites who look safe as houses in terms of achieving their primary objective this season of staying in the division.

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With 42 points and a 16-point gap back to the dropzone and only eight games left, there's about as much chance of City not winning the league as Leeds going down.

Not going to happen.

And in any case, Bielsa is looking up, not down.

The fact that the Whites have only savoured one win against any of the division's current top seven is not lost on United's head coach who is very much out to change that.

So why not start at the top? By conquering the best, by causing the biggest shock yet of United's return.

Look, let's not kid ourselves, this City side are world class, the best in Europe possibly, maybe even the best in the world.

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Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, the list goes on, take your pick.

If it all goes wrong for Leeds and everything clicks for the hosts then City could fill their boots.

We know that.

Scary right? Maybe best going in a little cautious then, just this once given the opposition?

Yeah right.

This is Bielsa's Whites and this should be some watch.

Who needs the Grand National.

Be lucky, and have a great weekend.

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Thank you Laura Collins

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