Southampton v Leeds United - Every word from Marcelo Bielsa press conference on team news, Raphinha availability and Newcastle United takeover
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Whites will return to Premier League action after the two-week October international break with Saturday's 3pm kick-off against Southampton at St Mary's.
Bielsa will be speaking to the media at 1pm and all of the latest news from United's head coach will follow here.
Leeds are fifth-bottom ahead of the trip to St Mary's, one position and two places above the Saints.
Southampton v Leeds United - Marcelo Bielsa press conference LIVE
Key Events
- Whites back in action on Saturday in 3pm kick-off at St Mary’s.
- Head coach Marcelo Bielsa speaking to the media at 1.15pm.
More team news - on Koch, Ayling, Forshaw and Summerville
“Koch is in the United States where is going to undergo a simple procedure to try and solve his problem in the pubis. Ayling is at the half way stage of his process of recovery. Forshaw is available again and Summerville also.”
On following up the Watford win with a positive result against Southampton
“Every game, we play for three points which are indispensable for us. The reality of the opponent doesn’t condition our game. You have to analyse a lot of aspects to see the state of form of the team that we come up against, for example the opponents that they have come up against, the evaluation of their draws, they are all things that put together decide how many points you have and the effect of having won against Watford, we will measure it and see if we can verify it in the performance against Southampton.”
On Raphinha - will he play or will it be too tight a turnaround with Brazil?
“There is no doubt that there is a short turnaround and the options that he has to participate in the game on Saturday depends on whether he plays this final game tonight, how many minutes he plays, how he finishes the game after he has participated in it, how efficient the rest he can have in the next 36 hours is considering that a third of those hours he is going to spend it flying, and if there is any risk that that fatigue could cause injuries than we won’t risk it. There are so many aspects to consider that I can’t offer you any certainties either way.”
On Kalvin - will it be a late fitness test?
“He has possibilities to play and we will decide in between today, tomorrow and Saturday.”
“He has a problem in his ankle which we informed previously and his recovery is subject to the evolution of the injury. If I anticipated a date it wouldn’t be because I have arguments to do so because the evolution we have to control is on a day to day.”
Team news - on Phillips and Bamford
“Bamford won’t play and Kalvin has chances of being able to do so.”
Almost time
Members of the press are gathering via Zoom and Marcelo will be with us in ten minutes’ time.
A slight change of plan
Marcelo Bielsa will now be speaking to the media at 1.15pm, not 1pm as initially planned.
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