CONFIDENCE IN BIELSA ‘WEAKENED’

MARCELO BIELSA is refusing to make Leeds more defensive – despite admitting his players have been losing faith in their eccentric manager.

Leeds could be in the bottom three by the end of today. Defeat at home to Tottenham followed by news of a Burnley win, and Newcastle and Everton both not losing, would push them into the drop zone.

Confidence is low following last week’s 4-2 thumping at home to Manchester United and

Wednesday night’s 6-0 humiliation at Liverpool. Bielsa (left) knows that one point from the last five games and 56 goals conceded so far has left himself open to a barrage of criticism.

But he is refusing to budge on calls to curb the attacking play that leaves United so vulnerable at the back.

He said: “It’s the only path, the only way that I know. When you are the conductor in a bad situation, no one trusts what you’re saying.

“What I am also sure of is that if

I stop doing what I believe in, then the situation, instead of improving, is going to be even worse.

“The question is not of changing how we proceed, but that our procedures work.”

News that England duo Patrick Bamford (left) and Kalvin Phillips are not as close to returns from injury as previously hoped is also a blow.

Bielsa said: “The prediction they were going to be available in early March... how they are right now, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be the case.” Diego

Llorente and Robin Koch have made timely returns for the Spurs clash, but Bielsa knows the poor run has affected his standing in the dressing room.

He said: “It would be naive to think that confidence in the leader will be intact. The credibility in what I do is weakened by everything. The only one that believes blindly in myself is me.”

But he refused to contemplate walking away.

And the Argentine added: “What I have clear in my mind is that the more adverse the situation is, the more I fortify myself to face it.”