Stephen Warnock has admitted that he has annoyed Leeds United fans with his claims that Marcelo Bielsa would run his small squad into the ground with the way that he pushes them.
In a way, Leeds have suffered from the ‘Bielsa burnout’ in the second-half of this season because their sudden collapse in form around Easter saw them drop out of the automatic promotion spots and into the play-offs.
However Bielsa has done wonders just to get Leeds to this point, but Warnock believes that it is something that the Argentine needs to improve on if he is still in charge of a Championship club next season.
“Much to the annoyance of Leeds fans, I did always think they would blow up just because of the size of the squad and the way he pushes them every day in training,” said Warnock, as quoted by FourFourTwo.
“The Championship is such a competitive league it is always going to be tough to maintain that level. If he was to stay at Leeds next season, if they didn’t get promoted, it is something he would definitely learn from.”
Standing in the way of Leeds and a play-off final at Wembley are Derby County.
The Yorkshire giants won 1-0 at Pride Park in the first leg on Saturday and Warnock expects Bielsa to send his men out to double their advantage in the first-half.
“I expect Leeds to come flying out because they know that one goal will possibly kill the game completely. They have the home advantage and at a packed Elland Road that’s what you would expect from them.
“But when Leeds do come flying out Derby have got the quality up front and speed to counter-attack. It is going to be an interesting first 45 minutes.”
OPINION
Leeds should be able to beat Derby on Wednesday and then all that stands between them and the Premier League would be either Aston Villa or West Brom, who play the second leg of their play-off semi-final 24 hours beforehand. Kemar Roofe’s goal in the first leg is all that separates Leeds and Derby going into this week’s match but it is a blow for the Whites to be without Roofe, who is injured. Patrick Bamford is more than likely going to return to the side after completing a two-match ban but neither him or Roofe have been completely at the races when it comes to scoring goals in the last month or so. Leeds’ defence is going to be their best weapon in the second leg. Pontus Jansson might be back up to full speed after an injury but Gaetano Berardi did a good job at centre-back at Pride Park on Saturday.