MX23RW : Monday, November 25 11:37:40| >> :120:68879:68879:

Marcelo Bielsa not paying attention to Newcastle's troubles

Leeds are bidding to avoid a fourth-straight defeat after two league losses have sandwiched their humbling FA Cup exit at the hands of Crawley.

Marcelo Bielsa says he is focusing on his own side's problems and not Newcastle's before Tuesday night's Premier League game at St James' Park.

Leeds are bidding to avoid a fourth-straight defeat after two league losses have sandwiched their humbling FA Cup exit at the hands of Crawley.

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is under increasing pressure, with some fans calling for him to be sacked after his side have taken just two points from their last eight league matches.

"We analyse the difficulties of the opponent, but of course we worry more about our own difficulties and our difficulties are just as present as theirs," Bielsa said.

"We're not focused on the opponent's bad run of form, we're focused on our own game and trying to improve our own form.

"In no way do we feel that Newcastle's poor run of form will help us regain ours. It's not a rival's poor run of form that will help us improve, we have to improve on our own."

Defeats at Tottenham and at home to Brighton have left Leeds 12th in the table.

But they are 11 points above the bottom three – four ahead of Newcastle – and Bielsa again dismissed the idea that their recent blip is due to fatigue.

"The physical performance (data) of Leeds United is available to those who would like to look at them," Bielsa said.

"Before every game Leeds' physical values are always superior to the opponents and after every game Leeds' physical performance still remains better than all the opponents without exception.

"To verify, throughout the length of the season, whether it's true that my teams run less or become tired is information that is incorrect.

"Anyone who has an opinion on this aspect can look and see that they are wrong."

Goalkeeper Illan Meslier could return to action after missing two matches through illness, while Leeds will also be boosted by the return from suspension of midfielder Kalvin Phillips.

Bielsa said defender Gaetano Berardi is closing in on a return to training after being sidelined since July with cruciate ligament damage.

Midfielder Adam Forshaw, who has been out since September 2019 with a chronic hip problem, could be back in action "in the not-to-distant future", Bielsa added.

ID:432056: cacheID:432056:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3994:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Patrick Bamford scores a disallowed goal for Leeds against Crystal Palace in the Premier League on November 7, 2020
Read Next:
Bamford donates £5,000 to Leeds primary school to assist remote learning
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds1695228121632
2Sunderland1695226121432
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1610422191232
4Burnley168621961330
5Middlesbrough1683529191027
6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom166821811726
7Watford168262524126
8Millwall166641914524
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City165742020022
11Derby CountyDerby165562020020
12Stoke CityStoke165561920-120
13Norwich CityNorwich164752524119
14Swansea CitySwansea165471414019
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds165471826-819
16Luton TownLuton165381826-818
17Coventry CityCoventry164572223-117
18Oxford UnitedOxford Utd164571924-517
19Plymouth ArgylePlymouth164571728-1117
20Preston North EndPreston163761624-816
21Cardiff CityCardiff164481524-916
22Hull City163671621-515
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR161871326-1311


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!