Victory just reward for doggedness, says Bielsa

MARCELO BIELSA felt his 10man Leeds side deserved their victory over Manchester City yesterday – but would not have complained had they lost.

Stuart Dallas struck twice, including an injury-time winner, as Leeds overcame the first-half sending-off of captain Liam Cooper to win 2-1 against the Premier League leaders, who had 29 shots at goal in an otherwise dominant display at the Etihad Stadium.

Leeds manager Bielsa said: ‘They dominated the game, the majority of the chances at goal were in their favour.

‘But the result was deserved because of the character, personality, effort and fortitude from a mental and physical point of view.

‘It is a little bit strange to say it – as it would have been fair for City to win – but we deserved to win.’

It was Leeds’ first victory over one of the established ‘big six’ clubs since their promotion back to the top flight.

It was also a notable first win for veteran Bielsa over City boss Pep Guardiola, but the 65year-old Argentinian refused to take any of the credit.

He said: ‘That Leeds beat Man City doesn’t mean I imposed myself over their manager.

‘I do think value belongs to the players for winning a difficult game.’

The dismissal of Cooper in the last minute of the first half for a bad challenge on Gabriel Jesus changed the nature of the game, forcing Leeds into second-half rearguard.

Referee Andre Marriner initially showed a yellow card before revising his opinion after checking on the pitchside monitor.

Bielsa did not give a view on the incident.

He said: ‘My opinion is not important because the referees are specialists.’

Guardiola, whose quadruplechasing side face Borussia Dortmund in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final next Wednesday, made seven changes.

He denied selection was a major factor in the result.

He said: ‘When you win you are a genius, when you lose you have to take it.

‘I don’t have any regret about about the XI for selection because I trust a lot of them.’

The defeat was only City’s second in 29 games in all competitions, 27 of which have been won. They still need 11 points to wrap up their third title in the space of four years.

Guardiola said: ‘When you lose a game you realise how difficult it is, what we have done so far.

‘Now we need to do it again. We have Aston Villa and then three of the next four games are like finals, in the

Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup.’