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Marcelo Bielsa: Five points ahead of Crystal Palace

Quotes from Bielsa’s press conference.

Marcelo Bielsa Web 150.jpg

Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Here we look at five points made by the Leeds United head coach ahead of the upcoming fixture.

On feeling a sense of responsibility to lift spirits in lockdown…

“It’s not my responsibility, it’s my job and if we can help to bring some entertainment or to make people feel better, then that will of course be great.”

On the possibility of Patrick Bamford being selected by England…

“It’s a valuation that doesn’t correspond to myself. Whose job it is to evaluate is that person who has to look at all players for the national team and this requires a certain dedication because you have to look at all the options and I don’t have all the details that are needed. Even if I did, I still wouldn’t have an opinion because I don’t like to talk about the job of another person.”

On Raphinha potentially playing as a number 10…

“He fundamentally plays on either wing. He’s a player who is naturally very attacking with dribbling skills and he likes to get in behind the defence. He likes to attack and these skill are applicable out wide as well as in the centre. I won’t say I won’t use him in any other position but I fundamentally see him as a player for either wing. He has played in the centre as a striker and an attacking midfielder, but he arrived in our team to be an alternative on the wings.”

If 10 points from seven games is a fair reflection…

“I think so.”

On Joe Gelhardt and the Academy…

“He’s a player that is progressing. The evolution of the whole Under-23s team, we follow closely. We analyse every performance of the Under-23s as if it was the first team and because we normally train with 22 players.  When we are missing any of those 22 players, we substitute them with some of the Under-23s. I think that around 50 per cent of the players in the Under-23s can apply for a place on our team.”

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