Former Leeds United goalkeeper and Sky Sports pundit Rob Green has discussed Marcelo Bielsa’s tactics following the 3-1 defeat against Chelsea.
On Saturday, despite taking an early lead through Patrick Bamford, the Whites fell to a 3-1 defeat against the Blues at Stamford Bridge (per BBC).
The defeat means that Leeds have now won four, drawn two and lost five of their opening 11 top-flight fixtures this season.
While Bielsa has used as many as six different formations over those 11 matches, only 4-1-4-1 and 4-4-1-1 have been used on more than one occasion.
During Sky Sports’ Saturday Night Football programme, which was later released as The Sky Sports Football Podcast, Green discussed Bielsa’s tactics. (15:16)
He said: “This is what they do and this is how they play and they’re not going to change for anyone.
“We saw that on the opening day [against Liverpool], a few people were surprised [but] look, [if] you’ve not seen Leeds play, you don’t know how Bielsa works, this is what he does.
“He has absolute belief in it and it will not change, they just need to do it better all the time. They’re going to get exposed against the top teams.”
TIF Thoughts on what Rob Green said about Bielsa’s tactics…
As can be seen in what the retired goalkeeper had to say, he does not believe that Bielsa will be changing his tactics now that the Whites are in the Premier League.
Should Bielsa change his tactics to suit the Premier League?
No, he doesn't need to
Yes, he should do
During the 2019/20 season, Leeds secured their return to the top flight for the first time in 16 years after finishing champions of the Championship (per Transfermarkt).
In their first 11 league games of the season, they have managed impressive results against big sides such as Manchester City and Arsenal, and a victory against Everton.
So, that is evidence that Bielsa’s tactics can work at the apex of English football and it is, therefore, understandable why he would not be willing to change his ways.