Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has admitted he made something of a gamble over the fitness of Pablo Hernandez as the midfield maestro played the full 90 minutes versus Preston North End.
The Spanish ace had been a doubt for Tuesday night’s Championship clash through injury but was named among the starting XI, going on to star on the way to a 2-0 victory for the Whites.
Speaking after the game at Deepdale, Bielsa admitted he nor his backroom staff knew whether he would be able to make it through the game, having had doubts in the build up, but that he made himself available on Tuesday morning.
He told Phil Hay: “We didn’t know (how he would cope). He was waiting until warming up previous to the game. But from this morning he started to make us feel that he was well.”
Bielsa on Hernandez's fitness: "We didn't know (how he would cope). He was waiting until warming up previous to the game. But from this morning he started to make us feel that he was well." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) April 9, 2019
Opinion
A gutsy move from Bielsa and one which could well and truly backfired had it gone wrong. Hernandez is without a doubt one of the most important players at Leeds and so keeping him on the pitch is crucial, but bringing him back before he is fully fit is only running the risk of causing the injury to relapse and become something more serious. Thankfully for Leeds he seemed fine after the win against Preston and they will be praying it remains that way for the rest of the season. The veteran really is one of the most important players that Bielsa has at his disposal and to lose him would be a catastrophic blow to their promotion hopes. He has proven time and again to be the game changer that Leeds need and there is no one else who can produce the moments of magic he can. Playing him on Tuesday was a bold roll of the dice that could well have determined Leeds’ season. So far, it looks like a masterstroke.