OPINION
Marcelo Bielsa has claimed that preparing for penalties is meaningless for games like the play-off semi-finals.
Talking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Derby on Saturday, the Leeds manager made the comment that has got some Leeds fans nervous.
“You can be good at penalties but not in front of 50,000 people. You can be good in games but not in a game like this. What I’m telling you is that it’s meaningless to prepare for penalties,” the Leeds boss said.
Bielsa’s comments were reported by Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Phil Hay.
Bielsa asked about penalties, with a shoot-out possible: "You can be good at penalties but not in front of 50,000 people. You can be good in games but not in a game like this. What I'm telling you is that it's meaningless to prepare for penalties." #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) May 9, 2019
Leeds United are about to play their biggest two games of the season in the Championship play-offs and form can well and truly go out the window during these games. Despite Leeds defeating Derby County comfortably twice this season, it now counts for nothing and Bielsa’s men simply cannot overlook Lampard’s Rams. Leeds defeated Derby 4-1 at Pride Park and 2-0 at Elland Road.
Penalties could well crop up and fans seemed a little alarmed that their team might not be practising them.
However, what Bielsa actually meant was that you can practise penalties all you like – and the Leeds side do – but that preparing for them is meaningless in games where there’s so much pressure on the line.
Here’s how Leeds United fans reacted to Bielsa’s comments:
pretty obvious we dont prepare for penalties, and its not exactly working great
— Steven S (@steskid86) May 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/crypto_lemma/status/1126455962221666306
Meaningless ? Well I suppose our conversion rate has been good in our last few penalties ???
— MDT (@TigerTowns88) May 9, 2019
Today is all about saying the opposite of what he really thinks/does. A leopard doesn't change its spots, so are you really telling me that we aren't practising lifting penalties above 4 feet, that most keepers on earth would struggle to save?
— We're Farked Aren't We? (@NoFilters56) May 9, 2019
Don't agree with Bielsa on that one… go ask the Germans how important penalty practice is…. #lufc
— David Watkins (@DaveLUFCWatkins) May 9, 2019
No wonder we keep missing them
— nboothroyd (@SarahNboothroyd) May 9, 2019
Most baffling press conference from him ever. Some strange answers going into 2 massive games ?
— Decky Quinn (@DeckyQuinn) May 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/JohnPal72209063/status/1126456372051304448