12.10pm: Good afternoon from Thorp Arch
Lovely day just outside Wetherby. Blue skies and sunny. Marcelo Bielsa and Gjanni Alioski will be facing the press from 12.30pm ahead of Saturday's clash against Derby which is somewhat payback time. Bielsa speaking first. All the latest here.
Forshaw and Ayling
Unless there are any new injuries, updates on Forshaw and Ayling are likely to be near to the top of the list here. Forshaw missed the win at Barnsley with a hip problem but only a minor one and he was expected to be fit to face Derby. Ayling played 45 minutes for United's under-23s on Monday on his return from ankle surgery but the plan was for Ayling to also play for United's under-23s tomorrow too. Touch wood, they are the only doubts.
Marcelo is here....
Sky are here so they will be asking first...
Fitness update
Just Forshaw (out)
On Derby/play-offs re-run
I don't think the match on Saturday is the match of last season. I know that happens on Saturday doesn't modify what happened in the past so I think the convenient thing for the team is to think in this way.
On Cocu
Cocu is a manager with a lot of prestige. And as every coach and manager he has a link with the ball possession and to creative play and dynamic as well.
On Derby's start
Championship teams have highs and lows - in this case it is with a new manager, it is a natural thing that the adaptation needs time. The performances they have had are better than their results, the play they have is not reflecting.
On Nketiah
He is one of the team options that we have, he is an important player who has an impact and change one match, we are really grateful that we can count on him. Of course he and Bamford give different things to the team but also they can play together. When two players in the same position play in the same team, you need to see which one doesn't play and what we lose what when the other player leaves if the other plays because in the case when they play together it is not always the case that you are going to be more dangerous. The centre forward is really important, the passes they receive so if they play together they can do it but sometimes we have two centre forwards but not the players who can assist them.
On Clarke - reports he could go back to Spurs in press
Always the source of the news is the most important, after when you have a team of 20 players and give a lot of opportunity of each of those 20 players. I am really satisfied with the development of Jack, he is at a good level of fitness, technically he is full, he is complete, and his attitude is very good. He competes with three other players. I am satisfied working with Clarke and I am sure he is going to be necessary and important for us. In relation to the news you are talking about, the only way to answer to this news if it is Clarkle saying that or someone from Tottenham
On Cocu's style
When you analyse the managers you always have to give names and it is a little bit difficult, Cocu has some important players left. There are three players that left Derby last season and a new manager who is trying to impose his own style. The relationship between both managers is the ball possession and the desire to be the protagonists in the match
Ayling latest
Tomorrow he is going to play a few more minutes for the 23s but the fact that he is close to us again is really important. The same with Clarke, Clarke is a player full of skills, he was impressive last season but it was interrupted with a health problem and now again he is at his best level. But you have to test the absence of one player, you have to consider if he plays which player has to leave the XI. I would have to analyse what would happen if Pablo was not in the team or Helder or Harrison - but then youy would read that City would end the loan of Harrison! This is just an example.
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https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/leeds-united-latest/leeds-united-v-derby-county-press-conference-recap-marcelo-bielsa-provides-updates-on-adam-forshaw-jack-clarke-and-luke-ayling-gjanni-alioski-on-rams-test-1-10004363
Bielsa Press Conference: Pre-Derby
posted on 19/9/19
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Who were the most difficult teams you faced?
It is difficult to verify 30 years in one moment but Sao Paolo in the 90s were a unique team, all 11 players were great players. Brazil 2002 World Cup but if you think about the career of football when we were playing to qualify to go to the World Cup I was coaching a very unique team, a special team. This team qualified but they were beaten in the first stages of the World Cup. This marked my career a lot but the same team in 18 matches, the South American qualifications, this team Argentina won the qualification by 14 points. My mistake in the World Cup. And the other incredible team was the Guardioala team that left an incredible mark in the football history. People who saw this team, nobody will watch a team like that ever. What he built with this team, they were incredible players but not all extra ordinary players can build the football they built. There is a phrase that defines the best managers, saying that comparing his level with the 100 per cent capacity of the top players because Guardiola got that, all the top players shone. The football in the Premier League should analyse for new generations what this team was, there are different ways to show a team in the next years. Football and the communications industry is so big, they should two or three times a year, show us what was this Barcelona. You can tell this in different ways but the English make good documentaries, maybe one exists but you can make another one with Guardioala showing us again.
On six away wins in a row - only third manager to do it at Leeds
Every statistic has to be in comparison with achieving promotion. In the club history we remember those who promoted the team.
On the culture of being in England
The only thing I can talk about is the football, of course I have an opinion but I will choose to only talk about the football. I am surprised and love the relationship with the team and football. I have realised that people love my team but also the football. In Argentina they loved the team more than the football. The love for the shirt. In England they love the football. I have realised that in England they also love the football.
On Casilla facing Derby again
Kiko has a solid character and I cannot imagine that his performance is going to be linked with the performance of last season.
Did Spygate make Derby want to beat Leeds more in the play-offs?
I don't think so, about this situation, for all our faults we have already paid. I don't imagine Derby would have had more motivation because of that.
Bielsa now asking the questions - when asked about spygate again..
What is it you want to know?
Did Spygate cost Leeds United promotion?
For me there is no way to link promotion with spygate
That's it from Marcelo
More fun and games there which he took in his stride, as always
posted on 19/9/19
Cheers Sol
posted on 19/9/19
I think Forshaw is one of our best players, he is fantastic.
However I don’t have concerns even for a second about him being missing, such is the faith I have in Jamie shack
posted on 19/9/19
Forshaw at home is not a bad miss imo. He is quite a negative player and imo we could benefit from having a more direct centre mid in there.