Marcelo Bielsa press conference as it happened: Pablo Hernandez ruled out of Leeds United's Cardiff trip
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa spoke to the media on Thursday afternoon ahead of his side's return to action
Joe MewisLeeds United editor
Beren CrossDigital Sports Writer
Marcelo Bielsa has spoken to the media (Image: Photographer Alex Dodd/CameraSport)
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa addressed the media for the first time more than three months on Thursday afternoon ahead of the Championship's imminent return.
The Whites will take to a football pitch for the first time since their March 7 win over Huddersfield Town on Sunday when they make the long trip to Cardiff City.
That will be the first of a nine-match sprint to the finish for the Championship leaders, who currently sit a point clear of second-placed West Bromwich Albion and seven ahead of third-placed Fulham.
Speaking to the media via a Zoom call, the Leeds United chief has given updates on injuries, fitness levels, Sunday's trip to Cardiff City and more..
Recap what he said here.
Would you like to have played a friendly game or two against another club or did you not think it was necessary? 15:51
How important do you feel it was to play these games and not to decide the season on points per game? 15:45
How difficult has it been for you during this period to coach your players? 15:40
Injury updates - Hernandez, Augustin, Forshaw 15:18
Here's the full transcript from Bielsa's press conference this afternoon.
Live video reaction on Facebook
Keep an eye on our Facebook page as our man Beren Cross will be going live to give his take on today's press conference and what it's like to be on a Zoom call with Marcelo Bielsa.
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That's all from Bielsa
So, plenty to take away from today's first press conference back.
Here are the main headlines....
Hernandez to miss out at Cardiff City
Augustin 'doing individual work'
No friendlies have been organised
Bielsa reiterates Leeds' PPG stance
Plenty more to chew on from that, with a full transcript coming up shortly, plus more reaction.
With so many games coming up in such a short period, willl things have to change with how you manage the squad physically? Will there be more risk of injury?
For the first match and the second match we have a complete week. After we have seven matches we play twice a week. All of us know if we play twice a week the injury risk increases. Also, we have a period of three months without competition. That is a way where we can think we recover fatigue. It happens normally in the last period of competition. We have to say the preparation of the team was not normal. We have to wait to see what happens because it is not a normal situation. We never experience this situation before.
KEY EVENT
Would you like to have played a friendly game or two against another club or did you not think it was necessary?
In the last four weeks we had three players per position, so we had three teams and this allows us to do a lot of football training, very, very useful for us. We think in this way was going to be enough for us. We have prepared to continue with the preparation as we plan. We could have played, maybe a friendly match, but when you organise something there are some difficulties that are logical. We prefer to continue without this way.
How do you go about restoring your momentum with the return of football?
The objective always is try to score and don't allow the opponent to score. In some moments you can get this and in others you cannot. So, this work we have done, even though we had a long period of time working on the physical preparation and after one month with tactical and technical work, is not like a normal pre-season. [This is] for two reasons: we don't have friendly matches and the other reason is you play the last nine matches. It is the period where you define if you get the objective of the competition or not. It is not the same as start thinking in the first match and after have 46 matches. This is not a problem for us. It is a situation everybody has to face without exception. This is the best way our authority found to try to resume the season. We are ready to go.
What specifically were you doing during lockdown? Any analysis in particular? Any tactics you wanted to improve upon?
When we started to work at Thorp Arch the first week was individual technique and it was something we had to plan a lot because we had to do a lot of training because we had one player with one coach, so we had to plan a lot of training during this week. Second week it was with small groups, defensive line with the possession midfielder and the other five players were the three attackers and two offensive midfielders. There was specific work for each line. Third week we did a lot of football in different ways [like] 11 v 11. This week was similar as a week where we have to play at the end of the weekend.
Can you tell us about the kind of work and analysis you were able to do while the players were at home?
First of all, the club, the institution, everybody in Leeds who made the work of the players easier, was very generous, very important. All the people around the players in Leeds, in the club, have supported us in a lot of different ways. For that reason, we appreciate and we say thank you to them for this support. The work at home of the players was a physical kind of work, with evaluation tests. A different kind of work. The people who carry out this work, especially Benoit Delaval and the staff around him, have received the feedback of the player and they evaluate the player.
How important do you feel it was to play these games and not to decide the season on points per game?
To think we get something without play is very disappointing. Another thing, not being able to share this last period of nine matches with the supporters, with the fans, is something I never wished. We know public health is above the rest of the things and football is secondary if we compare with public health, but we have to say the communication between the players and the supporters makes football. Without this relationship football is different.
Just to recap on that injury news, are you saying Augustin is available to you this weekend, but Pablo is not?
Pablo is not for the match on Sunday, but Kevin Augustin is doing individual work. We think [it] is necessary he does this.
How difficult has it been for you during this period to coach your players?
During the period where players have to work at home, we found our players [have] done really, really serious work and that's unbelievable. After we had individual training, training in small groups of players and after the full group training together. In all this time we had some details to resolve, but all the problems we had were easy to resolve for us.
After what has been a really difficult time, how much more important is it, do you feel, to deliver success and promotion this season?
Football is the favourite hobby for people in general. The situation with the virus forced people to be at home a lot of time. Find a reason to be take a fan who enjoy always is positive.
Injury updates - Hernandez, Augustin, Forshaw
Pablo is returning to the training next Wednesday. Forshaw is completing his recovery process. And Augustin is not injured from April, but he is doing individual work.
How do you prepare the team for playing without fans? What kind of impact do you think that will have? Do you think the impact of home advantage could be lessened, like in the Bundesliga?
The more important [thing] is the mental adaptation of the players to the new situation. The best thing in football is the fan, the spectator. People who watch the match by TV is a different kind of supporter, even though they are the same. The presence of the supporter is something very important, but this is for football in general and for every team. Everyone in the Championship has to adapt with this lack of supporter and what they mean to football.
How will the break impact your players? Any benefits? Are they ready to finish the job?
We think [they will respond] well. Players have done a big effort so far. They work very responsibly, but the football we are going to play is not the same football we played before. For this reason, it's very important to wait for the matches to be played before analysing our performance.
Off we go...
Here it is then, the full press conference as it happened earlier this afternoon...
Bielsa talking via Zoom
As is the way in what everyone now calls 'the new normal' Bielsa was speaking via a Zoom call from Elland Road earlier this afternoon.
As usual, the Argentine was joined by his assistant Diego Flores, who was on translation dutieis.
Up for discussion today was Bielsa's response to the ongoing pandemic, injury news, Sunday's trip to Cardiff.
Coming up is every answer from the Leeds boss...
It's been more than three month since we've heard from Marcelo Bielsa, but with Leeds United's Championship return just three days away, the Whites head coach has faced the media ahead of his side's trip to Cardiff City this weekend.
Bielsa's side visit south Wales in their first match back after the season was suspended amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Leeds United have occupied top spot in the second tier during the layoff and will be looking to complete their promotion push over the next five weeks, as their final nine matches of the season are played.
Recap everything Bielsa said during his press briefing here.
Marcelo Bielsa