Scoreline flattered Leeds United suggests gracious Marcelo Bielsa after ruthless battering of Stoke City

Marcelo Bielsa and his Leeds United moved closer to Premier League status with a ruthless 5-0 destruction of Stoke City, before the Argentine graciously suggested the scoreline flattered the Whites.
JOY - Luke Ayling celebrating Liam Cooper's goal in Leeds United's 5-0 win over Stoke City. Pic: Jonathan GawthorpeJOY - Luke Ayling celebrating Liam Cooper's goal in Leeds United's 5-0 win over Stoke City. Pic: Jonathan Gawthorpe
JOY - Luke Ayling celebrating Liam Cooper's goal in Leeds United's 5-0 win over Stoke City. Pic: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Leeds were 1-0 up, deservedly, at the break and forced a previously ultra-defensive Stoke to try and come out and play in the second half.

That played perfectly into Bielsa's hands, his men running rampant in the acres of space that appeared and not taking their foot off the pedal until the final whistle.

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Mateusz' Klich's penalty was followed up by goals from Helder Costa, Liam Cooper, Pablo Hernandez and Patrick Bamford, in a display of clinical finishing and counter attacking brilliance.

Bielsa said the timing of Costa's 47th minute goal was instrumental and made life easier for Leeds. But he didn't feel the game merited such a lopsided scoreline.

"Both halves were different," said the Argentine.

"We started the match well but the second part of the first half we lost contact with the opponents' goal. After, to be able to score at the end of the first half was very important. The second half, the early goal made our match easier. But in any case it was an exaggerated result. It was not a match with five goals difference."

Bielsa sent Pablo Hernandez on for the second half and the midfielder was magnificent, cutting the Potters open with his passing and scoring a classy goal to boot.

OPENER - Mateusz Klich scored the first for Leeds United before half-time, which meant Stoke City had to come out and play after the break, leading to a 5-0 thrashing. Pic: Jonathan GawthorpeOPENER - Mateusz Klich scored the first for Leeds United before half-time, which meant Stoke City had to come out and play after the break, leading to a 5-0 thrashing. Pic: Jonathan Gawthorpe
OPENER - Mateusz Klich scored the first for Leeds United before half-time, which meant Stoke City had to come out and play after the break, leading to a 5-0 thrashing. Pic: Jonathan Gawthorpe
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His head coach trusted him to have an impact no matter how the second half panned out, whether Stoke emerged from their shell or continued to try and rely on counter attacks.

"It was not [because Stoke would have to come out of defence]," said Bielsa.

"Pablo has different characteristics to Tyler. He can adapt to any kind of match. If the opponent defends far from their own goal, Pablo knows how to take advantage of this circumstance. If the opponent plays close to their own box and compact, Pablo knows how to assist in those conditions."

Bielsa was also impressed with Costa, who 'enriched' the attack with his individual skill and hopes that the winger, along with Stuart Dallas, will both be fit to start again on Sunday when Leeds travel to Swansea. The pair missed last weekend's game at Ewood Park but showed little signs of the niggles they had been struggling with in today's fixture.