Reading boss Mark Bowen on why Leeds United are a team to aspire to and the 'privilege' of facing Marcelo Bielsa

The Royals boss believes it's the intensity with which Marcelo Bielsa's United play that marks them out as a unique Championship test and an example to follow if you have a certain type of player in your ranks, a player with the athleticism and fitness demanded by Leeds' Argentine head coach.

Bowen, while content with the kind of player he has in his squad, admits Leeds are a team to aspire to because they are a team to fear.

"The thing that stands them out above anyone else in the league is the intensity they play at," he said.

"When you play them away from home they're probably the most difficult side in the division to play against with the questions they ask of you and the intensity they play at and the organisation Bielsa has got.

"Of course you'd love to get there in an ideal world but sometimes you can only get there with a different personnel of player.

"They might have a midfielder who runs harder and faster than John Swift but they won't have his ability so it's about getting that balance. As a coach I'd much rather work with him than someone who can just run up and down - that's not doing them a disservice because they do more than that.

"You aspire to be a team who others fear playing against and that's what they are."

Bowen is complimentary of his opposite number at Elland Road and calls it a 'privilege' to try and out-think the former Chile boss, with whom he has some history.

"I came up against him once before with Wales," said Bowen, who was a member of Mark Hughes' coaching staff.

"We had the privilege of seeing him work as a coach in an international environment and I was very impressed with how he went about his work.

"He's carried that on and has a rich history behind him. Pitting our wits against him is a privilege but we have to try and do the right things."

He is expecting his Royals to come under pressure in open play, which is a problem every side who has have travelled to Elland Road this season has had to try and overcome.

"They've not had a fantastic run of late but looking at the stats they produce they ask questions of any team playing them and the fact they haven't won those games is more down to lack of concentration or a goalkeeping mistake," he said.

"In general play they will put us under pressure. Certain things have to fall into place for us."