Marcelo Bielsa has raised fears over his future at Leeds United after admitting the club’s board will have concerns about sliding towards a Premier League relegation battle.
The Argentinian coach, 66, has overseen five games without a win and his team have conceded 16 goals in February, leaving them three points off the drop zone. Their rivals in the battle for survival also have games in hand.
After guiding the club back to the Premier League, Bielsa has been assured of his status as one of Leeds’ great managers, yet his position has never appeared on such a knife-edge as the last few weeks when relegation-threatened rivals have caught them up.
Bielsa commented that their form of seven defeats in 10 matches is “only going to awaken doubts” in the Leeds boardroom. “I don’t need them to give me conclusions on the result of the team I manage,” he added.
In their second season back in the top flight, Leeds have suffered injuries to a number of players including long-term absences of Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford. Bielsa has been adamant he cannot alter the high-octane way his squad trains, regardless of the injury concerns.
He has also insisted that his attacking style of play cannot change either despite heavy defeats to Arsenal (4-1), Manchester United (5-1 and 4-2), Manchester City (7-0) and this week’s 6-0 loss at Liverpool which meant Leeds have the worst defence in the Premier League.
Burnley, who occupy 18th place, are one victory from catching Leeds and are in good form with games in hand, while Everton and Newcastle are just below Bielsa’s team but Eddie Howe’s players in particular have shown signs of improvement.
Bielsa’s long-term future has also been in the spotlight recently as he approaches the final four months of his contract at Elland Road. He tends to leave it late in the summer to sign new deals and Jesse Marsch is waiting in the wings in the event of a change.
The former RB Leipzig manager said he was “enjoying a bit of free time” when interviewed this week but is looking for the right opportunity to return to football.
Leeds will look to bounce back from their defeat at Anfield when they face Tottenham on Saturday. “We are in a fight to defend our position,” said Bielsa, who restored Raphinha to his line-up against Liverpool after substituting him at half-time against Everton and dropping him from the starting XI in the next game.
The Brazilian, who has been in talks over a new deal, has been one of Bielsa’s best performers this season and his substitution was a surprise at the time. Another selection dilemma Bielsa has faced is whether to include Joe Gelhardt in his starting line-ups.
Gelhardt, 19, has shown huge promise this season and earned a last-gasp penalty to earn a point against Wolves on his first appearance at Elland Road. But the teenager has been used sparingly despite calls for him to be given regular games.
Leeds midfielder Adam Forshaw says the players must quickly get over their loss at Anfield as they prepare for Spurs, who themselves suffered the disappointment of defeat when they were beaten by Burnley on the same night.
“It’s hard not to let it affect you, I won’t lie,” said Forshaw. “We’ve got an important game on Saturday so we’ve got to move on quickly as well at the same time.”
