Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa spoke to the media ahead of Friday’s Sky Bet Championship clash with Frank Lampard’s Derby County.

The Rams currently occupy the final Play-Off spot, whilst the Whites sit at the top of the league, knowing a victory would extend the gap over Norwich in second place to five points.

Despite Leeds having a number of players absent through injury and coming into the game without a victory in three, Bielsa has laid down the gauntlet to his side.

“We need to win the game,” said Bielsa.

“We have no excuses whatsoever not to win against Derby County, we have the players that we need to reach the win with optimism.

“The problems that the team has are not an excuse not to try and win the game.

“We’ve lost our last two Championship games and we are playing against a team on the up.

“Derby play with a style and if we can win against them, with the style they use, it will be a very positive three points.

“Derby is not the same team we faced earlier in the season, both teams are very different and they are a much better team now, so I don’t think it will be the same game.

“What I think is that we have the conditions to try and win against this opponent, but we can’t rely on the fact we beat them five months ago.”