Foxes win leaves Marcelo Bielsa proud of Leeds United’s resilience

The Argentinian coach stopped short of calling it his team’s best win of the season, but in terms of the quality of the opponents, the 3-1 victory was arguably the most impressive.

Stuart Dallas quickly cancelled Harvey Barnes’s opening goal in an even and very open first half at Leicester City. The Foxes took control of the second period by switching to three central defenders but Leeds stuck to their task, fell back on some very good goalkeeping from Illan Meslier, and scored goals on the counter-attack from Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison, the latter made by the centre-forward.

“It was a very, very difficult game,” said Bielsa, who rated the win at Aston Villa an even better performance.

“In the first half, the game was how we expected. In the second half they changed the position of their players and it took us about 10 minutes to adapt to this.

“After we started to recover the ball a bit better and scored the second goal. After our second goal it was the most difficult period for us and for about 10 minutes we couldn’t prevent them from creating goalscoring opportunities but at the end of the game we managed it well.

“It was a very good result for us to achieve. It is very difficult to prevent a rival like the one today from building up passes.

“The only way we could be better than them was to not allow them to build up passes.”

Leeds knew the quality of opposition they were facing having lost 4-1 to Leicester at Elland Road in November, albeit their main antagonist that night, Sheffield-born Jamie Vardy, was injured yesterday.

Leicester put Leeds under real pressure at the start of the second half but they were able to withstand it, and claim the three points themselves.

“In the last 10 minutes we were able to adapt and the game became quite even and we managed to convert the second goal,” said Bielsa.

“But it’s also true that after the second goal there was a period where Leicester created chances. After that small period we managed to balance the game again.”

Bielsa’s opposite number Brendan Rodgers conceded afterwards that Leeds were deserving winners, saying of the second goal: “It was a great finish by Patrick Bamford but from our perspective we gave the ball away.

“We weren’t quite at our level but you also have to give them credit.

“Our physical players were good today but there were other areas where we needed more physicality.”

Bamford showcased the qualities Bielsa prizes so highly in the second half, with a brilliant finish when played onside by Jonny Evans, then some unselfish play when sent through on goal by Dallas. The centre-forward drew Kasper Schmeichel and squared for Harrison.

“It was a beautiful goal,” said Bielsa of Bamford’s.

“The shot went at pace where it is difficult to put it in with such power, conserving the violence of the shot. You can shoot hard or shoot to that spot – what is difficult is to do both things.

“Normally goalscorers prefer to score themselves rather than to give the pass. Patrick opted to pass the ball to assure the third goal rather than to build up his own account.”

Summer signings Rodrigo and Raphinha went off injured, a concern with a Premier League game at home to Everton on Wednesday. Bamford also appeared to be limping at full-time.

“I wouldn’t be able to tell you right now but I have the impression Rodrigo won’t be available (on Wednesday),” said Bielsa, who does not expect any transfers in our out of Elland Road today.

The injuries to Rodrigo and Raphinha meant the team that finished the game was made up entirely of players who appeared in last season’s Championship.

“The level is totally different,” said Bielsa when asked about that. “In the Championship we played to be the best. At this level we have to make a massive effort to hold back our opponents.”

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