Championship

Bielsa shares how he felt after QPR defeat

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Image for Bielsa shares how he felt after QPR defeat

Marcelo Bielsa has revealed how he was overcome by sadness in the immediate aftermath of Leeds United’s defeat to QPR on Tuesday night.

A photograph of Bielsa sat on his haunches staring at the floor outside the United dressing room at Loftus Road has gone viral over the last 36 hours.

The United manager admitted his emotions were running high but explained how Friday’s Championship home match against West Brom provides the perfect opportunity to bounce back from that disappointment.

Asked about looking so deflated on Tuesday, Bielsa said, as quoted by Leeds Live: “It’s an obligation in my profession to overcome the sadness and the hope of the next game is a good recipe for that.

“And it’s completely natural to be sad after a loss. What is strange is when you’re not sad after a loss. And to be full of hope when you are playing another game soon is also natural.

“When a win produces so much happiness it goes with a disappointment when the team loses. And when a team goes though moments of frustration, it’s normal that we see a warning sign when we don’t make a step forward.

“And our obligation is to make steps forward and neutralise the anxiety of the public.”

OPINION

At a time when it didn’t feel as if Leeds United fans could admire Bielsa any more, Tuesday night’s perfect encapsulation of his inner torment outside the Loftus Road changing rooms has taken that love and sky-high esteem to an altogether new level. Fans are delighted their manager felt as low and disappointed as they did, claiming it shows he is “one of us”. While that is not quite the case, as the Argentine is a gun-for-hire who might well now be at the club next season – by his own admission – no-one can doubt the feted coach is agonising behind the scenes and in private over how to get Leeds back to winning ways. United have spluttered in recent times and wasted the midweek opportunity to go back to the Championship summit. But, victory over automatic promotion rivals West Brom would provide the perfect pick-me-up,  for the manager, the players, the club and the fans who are desperate to get back to winning ways.

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