Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa has held his pre-match press conference, ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Here we look at five points made by the Leeds United head coach ahead of the upcoming fixture.
On the rivalry with Manchester United…
“Leeds doesn’t ignore what it means to play in such a game. We’re prepared to adapt for the characteristics that this game will demand. Football is identification. You can identify yourself when you face this type of opponent. The bond of communication grows stronger in these games. The fan will say ‘I’m from this side and the side I’m from is represented by this badge and this history.’ It is very important to have a big opponent.”
On facing Manchester United previously in his career…
“It’s a very solid memory. I think you’re referring to the athletic Bilbao and Manchester United game. The memories are many, initially to the players who produced the performance, for the 8,000 Basque fans who attended the game, the image of them being installed to the right hand side of me, I have it installed in my memory. That triumph is in the memory of all the Athletic fans. What it has to do with me is that it solidifies the affection and link I have with the Athletic fans and the Basque people.”
On the introduction of concussion substitutes…
“Any decision that protects the health of the players is welcome. These are decisions that are taken by the people in charge, that have information from scientists and other sources. I will accept and adapt to whatever the rules are.”
On Sir Alex Ferguson…
“In relation to the game that we played, he had a praise that I never forgot. He said that he wasn’t surprised that Athletic had won, that it was within what was possible and that he also wasn’t surprised how much the team had run to be on equal terms with them. What did surprise him was that on the day of the game, - because the game was at night - what surprised him was that my team had trained an hour and a half on the morning of the game and I never forgot that comment from him.”
On the fans…
“There’s one thing that clearly shows the affect that this type of game has on the fans. This kind of result increases the art of the people of a city or a place, but not from a commercial point of view. From the imagination that comes from the body and is expressed in the culture. There are works and sculptures, jewellery, paintings and writings that are produced by normal people where the feeling that is created is something unimaginable. The same as when Phillips had a mural done of him. But done in a smaller way, with different manifestations by normal people who don’t want the recognition, they don’t want any payment or anything in return. They show the pride that it is to be part of a tribe.”
