Mateusz Klich on decision that transformed Leeds United form and potential behind-closed-doors promotion pain

A 2-0 loss at Nottingham Forest had made it four defeats in five Championship outings and led to what Marcelo Bielsa saw as a loss of faith in the team from fans and the media.

The head coach insisted he, his staff and players believed more than ever and they proved it with a 1-1 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls the Bees, away from home.

Leeds were the better side and worthy of three points, but the point and the performance were both a catalyst for a timely purple patch.

Bielsa’s men went on to win their following five games and Brentford’s goal, scored by Said Benrahma, was the last one conceded by Leeds United.

Klich says the visit to the Bees, who conversely have won just once since, was the ideal time to turn things around and the players decided enough was enough.

“I think the Brentford game. After the Nottingham Forest game we said,‘this is enough,’ and that from the Brentford game we needed to play better,” said the Polish international midfielder.

“The Brentford game was a perfect game for us, we could have won it and we should have won it.

“After that we showed everyone we are really strong and we can really do it but obviously something has got in our way now.”

That something is a global pandemic and an indefinite suspension of domestic football.

The coronavirus outbreak and the absence of football has left a vacuum which has been filled with opinions on how the sport should deal with incomplete seasons.

Klich and Leeds United want to resume the 2019/20 campaign and finish what they have started, as soon as it is deemed safe to do so by the government.

Others have suggested declaring it null and void and some want the EFL to decide promotion and relegation on the league tables as they stand.

Although Leeds would benefit from such a scenario, Klich is not keen.

“We would like to finish the season, that’s the first thing,” he said.

“Everyone wants to play those games and none of us want to be promoted to the Premier League now, we want to go up after 46 games.”

Another option is to play games behind closed doors in order to stop large crowds from congregating and Klich is hopeful that it won’t come to that.

“If we went up and couldn’t celebrate with the fans it would be very painful,” he said.

“On the other hand I think everyone would enjoy next season. If it has to happen then we have nothing to say about it. But I would rather finish the games with the fans in the stadium and hopefully we could celebrate with them as well.”

But no matter how they return to action, if they return, what Klich wants most is to avoid another disappointing end to the season and make right the wrongs of 2019.

“We were in good shape having won five games in a row so we wanted to play, obviously,” he said.

“There’s still nine games to go, we don’t want to make the mistake of last season.

“We feel strong and we know we can do it.”

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