Leeds are showing signs of Bielsa’s ‘gruelling training regime’ after a 3-1 loss to Norwich on Saturday, according to the Times.
The loss was their fifth defeat in seven games in a slump that’s seen them deposed at the top of the table by their opponents on Saturday.
Norwich were magnificent at Elland Road and their fans relished the chance to put one over on their biggest rivals, signing “Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again.”
That might be wishful thinking but Times journalist Jason Mellor says there are worrying signs at Elland Road after manager Marcelo Bielsa said he was “deeply responsible” for the slump.
“Some eight months into Bielsa’s reign, a Leeds squad not overblessed with depth appears to be showing the signs of the Argentinian’s gruelling training regime and relentless front-foot approach,” Mellor wrote in the Times.
“Although it has arrived later than last season’s swift slide towards mid-table irrelevance, there are nevertheless concerning parallels, albeit having sustained their place at the sharp end of the table for much longer this time.”
OPINION
There have been murmurings about Bielsa’s methods before this season, with a long injury list and players suffering setbacks on their comeback trails. But there has been plenty more written about what an amazing job he’s done with a squad that was largely inherited and which flopped spectacularly in the Championship last season. Five defeats in seven games isn’t good at this time of the season, but a lot of Leeds’ rivals aren’t taking advantage. They’ve still got a three-point buffer to third and seven to West Brom in fourth, and they’re going to have the luxury of returning players to boost their squad soon. Patrick Bamford made his comeback on Saturday and scored the Leeds consolation. Izzy Brown should be back in the next couple of weeks. Not landing Swansea winger Daniel James was a blow, but what Leeds really need to do is go on a run again – starting at Middlesbrough next Saturday.