Bielsa Press Conference: Pre-Brentford

[Cooper, Alioski and Douglas all doubtful for tomorrow.]


Good afternoon

And welcome to Thorp Arch... we'll have every word Marcelo Bielsa has to say ahead of the clash right here.


Bielsa here

Let's see what he has to say...


How do you reflect on the start?

"It's very hard to do analysis with only three games. So of course the conclusion we make now might not be right. We've played three different games."


Brentford team news?

"We are not sure Cooper, Alioski or Douglas will play the game. We cannot say either way."


How do you feel with the team so far?

"We have put some players out and others came in summer. We are starting the game with the same players as last year. We have less injuries than last year. Now, we have players on the bench who have the skill to unbalance the game."


Confident with the new signings? Costa? Nketiah?

"If we had any doubt that these players are ready to report to the team they wouldn't be there. The idea is we have 18 players who can play in the first eleven."


Pontus returns?

"He deserves to be received in the right way. He was the best player of the team last year. I cannot talk about the previous years because I wasn't here. But he played at a high level last year. I appreciate what he gave to the team. I think the fans will recognise that."


After last night in the Premier League, what is your penalty policy?

"We have players who are good in this situation. More than one player. The player who we decide will do this is the best player. It's normal. We take notes at how they do in training, you can evaluate this situation easily."


Important to make a winning start this year?

"I know the circumstances, to win is always important. We want to see satisfaction."


How motivated is the side by last year?

"If you are thinking about last year's situation you can feel the pain. We are in the situation to change it. We have motivation."


Can Patrick Bamford be the top scorer this season?

"In football to think about what may happen is difficult. What I can say, is that he has the skills to keep scoring."


Adam Forshaw - how much has he improved?

"I think that he has had an important influence with his performance. When I started with him he was in his last position. He was the best player in the team. We've made minimum contact with him. Everything he is doing is things that he has in him."


Brentford - thoughts?

"Brentford is a different team. They have a different future that you cannot link with anyone else in the Championship. They've bought and sold some very good players. We have to see how they work the new squad."


Important to keep Jansson out of the game?

"We know the strengths of Pontus. The idea is to try and avoid the things he does well, but this is something normal in football. You have to avoid the strengths of the other teams in games. It's key."


Anything more on the injuries?

"It's going to depend on how they feel."


Are there any financial penalties for not playing loanees?

"I don't know. It would be something bad if they are not playing.


That's everything


https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-latest/leeds-united-v-brentford-press-conference-recap-marcelo-bielsa-reveals-three-doubts-for-bees-clash-1-9945885