Marcelo Bielsa makes Mateusz Klich admission after Leeds draw

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In comments reported by Leeds Live, Marcelo Bielsa has admitted that he considered taking off Mateusz Klich for Eddie Nketiah during Leeds United’s draw against Derby County on Saturday.

The Whites endured another frustrating afternoon at Elland Road. Bielsa’s side dominated for the large majority of the contest, but only boasted a 1-0 lead heading into the latter stages of the game.

It was a familiar story for Leeds. They created some fantastic chances, but it was an own goal that broke the deadlock. And they could not add a second before they were punished in the final moments.

With Leeds in front with just over 10 minutes to play, Bielsa decided to put Nketiah on. He took off Patrick Bamford, but admitted after the game that he thought about substituting Klich at one stage.

“If you have two centre forwards in one team which doesn’t create a lot of chances, you cannot take advantage of the results you have,” he said, as reported by Leeds Live.

“This is my way of thinking, but I’m not sure that is like that. When I put Nketiah on the pitch I was thinking of taking out Klich and Eddie and Bamford play together, Bamford behind Eddie, but for this decision I have to be convinced.

“I am getting to know some players, in the case of Nketiah for example. I need to know how I combine both of them.”

TBR’s View

Had the game been level, it seems much more likely that Bielsa would have taken the gamble and thrown Nketiah on to play with Bamford. But you could understand the thinking behind replacing one striker with another while they were in front.

Unfortunately for Nketiah, Leeds’s performance had already started to unravel by the time he got onto the pitch. The Whites lost their tempo and Derby were able to build momentum. Their equaliser came in stoppage-time with the visitors’ one shot on target throughout the entire game.

Leeds should have killed the game off by the time Nketiah was brought on. Klich himself, of course, missed a penalty. But he was not the only player to squander a brilliant chance.

The Whites remain top of the Championship. But with the sides around them before kick-off all dropping points, they still may not enjoy looking at the table and seeing how they missed the chance to open up a two-point lead.