Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
DIP-DIP HOORAY!
Bielsa: This slump is all my fault but I’ll get Elland Road cheering again
v Premier League: 5.30pm
BY
MARCELO BIELSA has vowed to end Leeds United’s slump, claiming he owes the fans and the club big time.
Bielsa feels indebted to Leeds and the supporters because of the backing they have given him during his four successful seasons at Elland Road.
Leeds are just one place above the drop zone ahead of this evening’s clash with Brighton and Bielsa said: “I have to fight to deserve what Leeds have done for me while I have been here.
“I have to fight to deserve what they pay me, the affection I receive, and the construction of the project here, whether that be the investment in the facilities or the footballers.
“The least I can is be grateful and fight against adversity as a minimal response to what I have received here.
“This is a club that’s bought Rodrigo Moreno, that’s bought
James, that’s bought Raphinha (below), that’s bought Llorente, Firpo, Koch, many signings. The capital invested means I have been given the resources.
“I think the club have put enough resources at my disposal for the results to be different.”
Leeds have won just two league games this term and Bielsa refuses to blame their lengthy injury list for their poor start.
He insists the buck stops with him and says the club and the fans deserve better than to be languishing 17th in the table. Last season, when they finished ninth, the Yorkshire side clocked up their third Premier League win by mid-october.
“I can’t attribute the position in the table to the injuries, nor to an insufficient amount of players,” said Bielsa.
“What’s left is the management of the players and that’s where the focus of attention is.
“Injuries are not the reason we are struggling and of course the position we are in worries me. “I’m in charge of a group of footballers who deserve to be in a higher position.
“These results are not what’s expected at this club.”
Leeds lost 2-0 at Brighton last season, with goals from Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck doing the damage. That was in May – in January Brighton travelled to Elland Road and won 1-0 thanks to a single Neal Maupay strike.
Bielsa is expecting no easy ride tonight, even though the Seagulls are without a win in seven Premier League games The Argentinian said: “They are a team that’s flexible in the way they line up and they play players in different positions. They do this very naturally and efficiently.”