QPR v LEEDS UNITED
LEEDS boss Marcelo Bielsa insists he respects the traditions of the FA Cup – despite making wholesale changes to his promotion-chasing team for the third-round trip to QPR.
The Argentine has made ending the Elland Road’s club 14-year absence from the Premier League his No.1 priority.
And Leeds are two points clear at the top of the Championship, despite suffering successive defeats to Hull and Nottingham Forest.
But Bielsa’s decision to name his team 48 hours before the visit to Loftus Road has led to suggestions that the Yorkshire club have little interest in winning a trophy they lifted for the only time in 1972 if it damages their promotion hopes.
And that has prompted him to defend his decision to make six changes to the line-up that started the 4-2 loss at Forest.
Bielsa said: “The FA Cup is a famous competition of English football and all those who watch English football know what it’s about.
“So the FA Cup has a history – and I respect that history.
“But it is the evaluation of each player that allows you to build a team.
“This is what I take into account when I build my team. I don’t need to be obliged to respect every game we play, but, before the season starts, I know what the calendar is.
“So I draw up plans to play in all the competitions – and I never underestimate an official competition.”
Leeds have been hit by a raft of injuries to players Izzy Brown, Patrick Bamford, Barry Douglas, Jamal Blackman, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas and Gaetano Beradi.
And Bielsa has indicated he will be putting no pressure on director of football Victor Orta to enter the transfer market for new recruits this month.
The FA Cup made legends of Argentine World Cup winners Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa, but Bielsa admits that his memories of the competition are sketchy, despite his admiration of it.
He added: “I don’t have any specific memories of the FA Cup final.
“But I do remember some games involving Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal.”
Bielsa has indicated he will experiment against fellow Championship side Rangers by using on-loan Manchester City winger Jack Harrison as a central striker.
“I am interested in seeing Harrison as a No.9,” he said. “When he played there before, he scored a goal.”
Sheffield United have won five of their last six third-round FA Cup matches, losing the only other match 0-1 at Old Trafford back in January 2016, thanks to a 90th-minute Wayne Rooney penalty.
Despite Barnet not reaching this stage since 2008, the Bees have progressed from each of their last two FA Cup third round encounters, knocking out Colchester in 2006-07 and Swindon in 2007-08.