MB Press Conference Pre Bristol City.
It’s very exciting.
Squad strong? Better positioned for promotion?
I have a lot of confidence with the squad that we have at the moment.
Confident of solving problems in front of goal this season?
That was a problem and we have to show that we can resolve it.
On Kemar Roofe - resigned to losing him? What can you tell us?
I can’t tell you anything because I’m not sure what will happen at the moment.
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Marcelo Bielsa press conference LIVE: Leeds United head coach on injuries, transfers, Bristol City
The Leeds boss is due to talk for the first time this season
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By
Joe MewisLeeds United editor
UPDATED13:02, 2 AUG 2019
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CHAMPIONSHIP KEY DATES FOR THE 2019-20 SEASON
Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa will face the press at Thorp Arch for the first time this season at lunchtime.
The Whites begin their new Championship campaign on Sunday afternoon when they face Bristol City at Ashton Gate to kick-off their centenary season with Bielsa coming back for a second year in West Yorkshire following last season's play-off heartbreak.
Bielsa will give an injury update with the likes of Luke Ayling and Kemar Roofe ruled out of Sunday's season opener, plus field questions on the club's remaining transfer plans with less than a week to go until the window shuts.
We're also expecting to hear from Mateusz Klich, who will be up after Bielsa.
Follow every question and answer from the Leeds head coach from Thorp Arch right here.
Stick with us for all the latest reaction from Elland Road and remember to follow our Instagram account (@ leedsunitedlive ) and our Facebook page where you can get notifications to your phone when anything happens.
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Bielsa on BPF
13:06
Harrison - how can he kick on this season? Why did you want him back?
For me last season was a season to grow and this is the season he has to show this experience.
Obviously these last two months he’s done a very good job, so the expectations he create is for him to compete in matches.
13:04
Do you have enough cover at centre-back?
Jansson left, everyone knows. Jansson was the best player last season.
You know that the club needs to sell players to adapt to FFP and be healthy and the league is equal.
We have to players, Kalvin and Ayling who can play centre-back. Berardi and Cooper too. White can develop in this scenario.
If Ayling plays like a centre-back you have Dallas and Shackleton to cover and Forshaw can be a defensive midfielder to cover for Kalvin.
So we lose the best player of last season but we are adapting to the rules and that is very important.
I’m very optimistic about how to solve the problem.
13:02
What has a year in the Champ taught you?
It’s a league that is very honest. It’s very competitive because everyone has the same chance. There are matches that are very difficult.
Another thing that is very clear, all the players give 100 per cent.
13:00
On the young players
Last season it was Clarke and Shackleton. They are more close to being part of our team and I hope at the end of the season there will be two players more to have the same role that Clarke and Shackleton have now.
13:00
More on Kalvin
One thing to add to Kalvin.
I am proud if he stays here, I chose him in the 18 players that are included in the squad, but I can’t decide if that is here or if he has to leave. I want to tell you this because Kalvin is in the squad for the 18 players that I choose before. But I have a maturity to decide if he has to leave or he has to say. I can’t share my idea about how I decide.
12:58
How crucial was Kalvin Phillips staying in your decision to stay at the club?
When you say Leeds United, you are talking a big thing.
When you are talking about Marching on Together it’s a sentence that is very clear and connects everyone. When you belong.
In a sentence like this, there are a lot in the rest of the world. There are a lot of clubs better than Leeds United and all the rest of the teams that could be better don’t have this feeling that united everyone and this passion about the club.
<Pressed again on Kalvin>
Kalvin was an example for everyone. In a context that is very professional with a lot of the speculation which is not good and sometimes I repeat this type of behaviours. Kalvin is showing us that you can be a big player, a good player and at the same time respect the values that is very difficult to find. I deserve all the good things because he teaches us how you can live professional life in football without forgetting about yourself, but keeping the behaviour in the right way.
I can understand that the future will give him the things that he deserves, He deserves all of the good things. I know perfectly the risk I am taking because it is possible that I have to decide in one match he has to go on the bench, but I cannot say this.
But many people can understand those who tolerate the frustration. For me Kalvin is an example. There is a sentence that says if you think in money you will never be a professional player. If you are thinking to be a professional player, the money will come for you. I deserve the last part of the sentence will be for Kalvin. To understand
12:52
Shackleton?
He’s ready.
12:52
Injuries
We’re missing Ayling, Roberts, Roofe.
Ayling had an operation on his ankle and Tyler is in a process that will finally be an operation.
12:50
Do you want any more players?
If there are players that improve the squad that we have now, then yes.
12:50
Where do you feel strong this season compared to last year?
All the things that the players did before is the feeling that Marcelo has with the team.
12:49
On BPF - did you try and convince him to stay?
If he thinks it’s not good for him to stay here or if he thinks there is a place that is better I have to convince him.
Our job is to try and give them all of the things that are good for them. I choose 18 players. We are creating a place where the players like to stay here and if a player chooses another place and the club decides at the same time it’s convenient for him to leave.
Nothing is more important that how you want to stay at one side. If you lose this feeling, it’s impossible to recover this feeling. It’s impossible to try and convince him if he doesn’t want to stay.
Where do you feel strong this season compared to last year?
All the things that the players did before is the feeling that Marcelo has with the team.
Do you want any more players?
If there are players that improve the squad that we have now, then yes.
Injuries
We’re missing Ayling, Roberts, Roofe.
Ayling had an operation on his ankle and Tyler is in a process that will finally be an operation.
Shackleton?
He’s ready.
How crucial was Kalvin Phillips staying in your decision to stay at the club?
When you say Leeds United, you are talking a big thing.
When you are talking about Marching on Together it’s a sentence that is very clear and connects everyone. When you belong.
In a sentence like this, there are a lot in the rest of the world. There are a lot of clubs better than Leeds United and all the rest of the teams that could be better don’t have this feeling that united everyone and this passion about the club.
<Pressed again on Kalvin>
Kalvin was an example for everyone. In a context that is very professional with a lot of the speculation which is not good and sometimes I repeat this type of behaviours. Kalvin is showing us that you can be a big player, a good player and at the same time respect the values that is very difficult to find. I deserve all the good things because he teaches us how you can live professional life in football without forgetting about yourself, but keeping the behaviour in the right way.
I can understand that the future will give him the things that he deserves, He deserves all of the good things. I know perfectly the risk I am taking because it is possible that I have to decide in one match he has to go on the bench, but I cannot say this.
But many people can understand those who tolerate the frustration. For me Kalvin is an example. There is a sentence that says if you think in money you will never be a professional player. If you are thinking to be a professional player, the money will come for you. I deserve the last part of the sentence will be for Kalvin. To understand
One thing to add to Kalvin.
I am proud if he stays here, I chose him in the 18 players that are included in the squad, but I can’t decide if that is here or if he has to leave. I want to tell you this because Kalvin is in the squad for the 18 players that I choose before. But I have a maturity to decide if he has to leave or he has to say. I can’t share my idea about how I decide.
On the young players
Last season it was Clarke and Shackleton. They are more close to being part of our team and I hope at the end of the season there will be two players more to have the same role that Clarke and Shackleton have now.
What has a year in the Champ taught you?
It’s a league that is very honest. It’s very competitive because everyone has the same chance. There are matches that are very difficult.
Another thing that is very clear, all the players give 100 per cent.
Do you have enough cover at centre-back?
Jansson left, everyone knows. Jansson was the best player last season.
You know that the club needs to sell players to adapt to FFP and be healthy and the league is equal.
We have to players, Kalvin and Ayling who can play centre-back. Berardi and Cooper too. White can develop in this scenario.
If Ayling plays like a centre-back you have Dallas and Shackleton to cover and Forshaw can be a defensive midfielder to cover for Kalvin.
So we lose the best player of last season but we are adapting to the rules and that is very important.
I’m very optimistic about how to solve the problem.
Harrison - how can he kick on this season? Why did you want him back?
For me last season was a season to grow and this is the season he has to show this experience.
Obviously these last two months he’s done a very good job, so the expectations he create is for him to compete in matches.
How hard is it for players to repeat last season's performance?
I can’t tell you an answer that is very solid. But for us we know that for each position there are few players. It’s not like there’s 33 players. We have 18 players that could give us the answer to play in three position. Ayling, Dallas, Shack and then Harrison, Clarke, Costa, these type of examples. There are alternatives and competition.
Dallas, Douglas, Alioski, they know their positions. As do the playmakers, for example.
So we make our target is that all the players can play in three positions.
Orta makes a lot of efforts and a very good job working together with Angus and the owner. The club got rid of 25 players. Built a structure to solve the problem of FFP and at the same time create a team with all of the options to compete. Obviously all of these things are possibilities. One of our needs is we have to be a small squad.
But if you miss the injured players Ayling, Roberts and Roofe, that is unpredictable and we hope it doesn’t happen again.
We also have a younger group that are better because they are working one year with us and all of the players that we miss, they will be able to do this.
Will individual players be able to hit this level?
This is the thing that I can’t tell you. It’s very difficult for one player to reach the same level as last season. The solution that we imagine is that we distribute the minutes for more players so we have more options for the same players. You are in the same time 100% to keep this place. So if you get this, finally the player can be at 100% giving all the things that he can do.
Last season we played the same players so there are more places to occupy. But at the same time we are at the top of the table, with the stumulation enough for the other team. Hopefully we will be in positions that will create enough power for the team.
It’s important that players fell they have players who can complete for the same place.