Marcelo Bielsa has spoken with the media, ahead of Tuesday night’s rearranged home fixture with Southampton, at Elland Road.

The Saints are the only team the Whites have not faced this season, and with just two points separating the sides, an evenly-matched contest is expected.  

The head coach began by giving an update on the fitness of his squad.  

“Kalvin Phillips is not available for tomorrow’s game,” Bielsa stated. 

“Rodrigo Moreno is also out, but Diego Llorente is back. Gaetano Berardi is evolving, the same as Ian Poveda.”

Southampton have had a tough run of results in recent weeks after early season form saw them as European contenders. This comes as no surprise to Bielsa, who gave his view on the recent matches.

“Every team has a bunch of negative results,” he explained. 

“The only teams that don’t have this problem are the ones who occupy the first few positions in the table.  

“The teams in the middle of the table who have not as big squads, when they’re missing four of five players like everyone else, they have to opt for youngsters to make subs during games.  

“This presents a different reality.”

The Leeds United head coach is looking ahead to the remaining matches in the season, as we enter the final third of the campaign.

Bielsa said: “There are situations that change with a lot of frequency.

“That’s why I insist with a dozen games left in a competition, that says a lot about a team. Sometimes it confirms feelings and sensations, and sometimes it opens up questions.  

“What I do have clear is that the club and the players make a big effort to help the team.”