Barry Douglas explains what Marcelo Bielsa said at half-time after excellent Leeds United fightback

Add as preferred source on Google

Leeds United are out of the EFL Cup following a penalty shootout defeat against Stoke City last night. Despite the exit, Leeds fans can be proud of their team’s efforts in a game that proved the age-old adage ‘game of two halves’ to be correct. 

Leeds were 2-0 down at half-time before some tinkering from Marcelo Bielsa saw a far more potent Leeds United come out for the second period. Eddie Nketiah and Helder Costa went on to score without reply. Unfortunately, Jack Harrison hit the post with Leeds’ fifth penalty and Leeds’ cup journey was over. 

But what did Bielsa say that had Leeds’ performance improve so much in the second-half. 

Barry Douglas, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, once again suggested that Bielsa did not stray from the masterplan.

“He just said that we needed to keep doing what we were doing.

“We had to keep believing. If we get the next goal we could go on and get the win. We always believed that. Again I think the boys showed that never say die attitude.”

TBR’s View

It is becoming a textbook notion that no matter what the circumstances, Leeds United will play the Bielsa way. 

It nearly paid off last night with an excellent second-half fightback but unfortunately, Leeds came up just short. 

Of course, the introduction of Ben White, Adam Forshaw and Harrison at half-time also played a big role in Leeds’s improved second-half display. 

But Bielsa’s philosophy always shines through and Leeds fans will hope it does again this weekend when they take on their nearest Championship rivals Swansea City.