'Our difficulties are just as present as theirs' - Marcelo Bielsa focused on Leeds United's problems and not Newcastle United's

The Whites and Magpies will go head to head in this evening's Premier League clash at St James' Park which features two teams who have both lost three in a row.

Newcastle have gone ten games without a win in league and cup - losing seven of them - and Steve Bruce's side have picked up just two points from their last eight league games.

Leeds recorded back to back wins at the end of December but the Premier League victories against Burnley and West Brom were followed by league defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton which came either side of a third round FA Cup exit at League Two side Crawley Town.

Twelfth-placed Leeds are still four places and four points ahead of the fifth-bottom Magpies - and with a game in hand - and Newcastle's dismal run has Toon Army fans protesting and calling for Bruce to be sacked.

Bielsa says tonight's hosts have naturally been analysed but the Whites head coach says his side are focused on improving their own performance levels, irrespective of the opposition.

"We analyse the difficulties of the opponent but of course we worry more about our own difficulties and our difficulties are just as present as theirs," said Bielsa.

"As in every game we try to improve ourselves as a team and we will try to be better than the opponent in all facets possible.

"We’re not focused on the opponent's bad run of form, we’re focused on our game and trying to improve our own form.

"In no way do we feel that Newcastle's poor run of form will help us regain ours.

"It’s not a rival’s poor run of form that will help us to improve on our own, we have to improve on our own."

Leeds and Newcastle are meeting for the second time in a little over a month and the Magpies have failed to score in open play since Jeff Hendrick netted a 26th-minute opener to put Bruce's side 1-0 up at Elland Road on December 16.

Leeds roared back to record a 5-2 victory and Newcastle's only three goals since Hendrick's strike have all come from set pieces meaning the Toon Army have gone over 14 hours without netting in open play.

Asked how much he had learnt about Newcastle during that dismantling at Elland Road, Bielsa reasoned: "I sort of answered this in a previous question.

"It’s not so much about the rival but it’s about what we can do and how we can hurt the opponent.

"Whilst having knowledge of the opponent is something that we have to take into account because it’s about facing another team and trying to be superior to them we always think that to dominate a match or to be superior is more about us rather than any fortitude or weakness that the opponent has.

"Knowing about your rival doesn’t mean that you’re going to be able to do something about it. It’s not so much about knowing about what you’re going to face, it’s about being able to be superior to them.

Bielsa added: "All teams have highs and lows. There’s teams who had bigger injury problems and have had to suffer because of covid a lot more than others.

"And this has an influence in the succession of the results and their games."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/steve-bruce-confirms-triple-newcastle-united-blow-leeds-united-clash-and-provides-allan-saint-maximin-fitness-update-3111840

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins