SM
West Ham vs. Liverpool: 13 hrs 35 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Marcelo Bielsa not paying attention to Newcastle's troubles

:Headline: Marcelo Bielsa not paying attention to Newcastle's troubles: ID:432056: from db_amp
Leeds are bidding to avoid a fourth-straight defeat after two league losses have sandwiched their humbling FA Cup exit at the hands of Crawley.

Marcelo Bielsa says he is focusing on his own side's problems and not Newcastle's before Tuesday night's Premier League game at St James' Park.

Leeds are bidding to avoid a fourth-straight defeat after two league losses have sandwiched their humbling FA Cup exit at the hands of Crawley.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is under increasing pressure, with some fans calling for him to be sacked after his side have taken just two points from their last eight league matches.

"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," Bielsa said.

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

Defeats at Tottenham and at home to Brighton have left Leeds 12th in the table.

But they are 11 points above the bottom three – four ahead of Newcastle – and Bielsa again dismissed the idea that their recent blip is due to fatigue.

"The physical performance (data) of Leeds United is available to those who would like to look at them," Bielsa said.

"Before every game Leeds' physical values are always superior to the opponents and after every game Leeds' physical performance still remains better than all the opponents without exception.

"To verify, throughout the length of the season, whether it's true that my teams run less or become tired is information that is incorrect.

"Anyone who has an opinion on this aspect can look and see that they are wrong."

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier could return to action after missing two matches through illness, while Leeds will also be boosted by the return from suspension of midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Bielsa said defender Gaetano Berardi is closing in on a return to training after being sidelined since July with cruciate ligament damage.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw, who has been out since September 2019 with a chronic hip problem, could be back in action "in the not-to-distant future", Bielsa added.

amp_article__432056 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2021-01-25 12:13:01:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 15:25:51 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Marcelo Bielsa

Click here for more stories about Leeds United

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
2Leeds UnitedLeeds45279980413990
3Ipswich TownIpswich432611685533289
4Southampton442591085612484
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4420121267442372
6Norwich CityNorwich442191477611672
7Hull City441912136556969
8Coventry CityCoventry4317121468551363
9Middlesbrough44189176460463
10Preston North EndPreston44189175661-563
11Cardiff CityCardiff44195205061-1162
12Bristol City441611175147459
13Sunderland44168205251156
14Swansea CitySwansea441511185762-556
15Watford441217155958153
16Queens Park RangersQPR451411204557-1253
17Millwall441411194355-1253
18Stoke CityStoke441311204460-1650
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn441310215874-1649
20Plymouth ArgylePlymouth441212205869-1148
21Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds44138233968-2947
22Birmingham CityBirmingham441210224864-1646
23Huddersfield TownHuddersfield44917184774-2744
RRotherham UnitedRotherham44412283285-5324
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .