Leeds United’s record against top six proves they are emerging Premier League force

Bielsa’s side maintained their impressive run of results against the top flight’s elite by drawing 0-0 against Manchester United on Sunday at Elland Road.

Since the turn of the year Leeds have beaten Leicester City and champions-elect Manchester City, while they have also held top-six sides Chelsea and Liverpool.

“All the players have constructed a solid group. Throughout this time they have made errors and have learned how to correct them,” said Bielsa.

“In the same way they have learned to avoid errors that are avoidable. I have a feeling there has been a growth in the maturity and their experience to manage these games.”

Leeds appear to have tailored their gung-ho approach following entertaining defeats to Liverpool, Leicester, Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham earlier in the season.

The Whites have displayed a stubborn resilience in more recent encounters against the top-six sides and that continued on Sunday.

“The way in which we have administered the different periods in the games has been improving,” added Bielsa as Leeds made it six top-flight games without defeat for the first time since 2002. “The capacity of the players to go up against these very good players has also increased.

“Aggressively, but not in a definitive manner, we can impose ourselves on the opposing defence and avoid being overcome by attackers of the highest level. These are individual merits and there’s a great togetherness within the components, which allows them to support each other throughout the whole game.”

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