[...]

More on Baker

The only time I talked to him about this subject, not only I told him that I wanted him to stay with us, I told him not only the next six months but also the next year but I understand that he took another decision. He had legitimate expectancy to play more, the last game he played in the FA Cup, for me, he had a positive performance and for me this was a starting point for his development inside the team but I can understand that he took a different decision."

What do you need in January?

First I will see what the possibilities of the club are to bring in players, what kind of players the club can add to the team, if they are better than the players we have.

Obviously we had Jamal Blackman with us but it's not the case any more. Saiz and Baker have left and we didn't want them to leave. When I saw it was not our decision to make him leave but me as a head coach and the club as a club, it was his decision. I can't ignore the fact that we lost many players in the last weeks but we can adapt to the situation and we can solve these difficulties.

As you know, Dallas, Berardi, Blackman are not here inside the group. Liam comes back to the group, Douglas is not in the group, a fifth absence is Kalvin Phillips who is suspended. Saiz and Baker are not inside the group, Bamford is absent too. Pablo Hernandez too - it will be very hard for him to be available for the next game so we are missing many players.

But for me it is not an excuse, we have the obligation to win the next game and we can win the next game. We just lost the last three games, the last one we deserved to lose but the two Championship games, we didn't deserve to lose them. So we have no excuses whatsoever not to win against Derby. And we have the players that we need to reach the win with optimism. But obviously I can;t say that it doesn't matter if we have ten players less. I can't be clearer than that..

@PhilHayYEP
3m3 minutes ago
More
Pablo Hernandez a major doubt for Derby, Bielsa says. Also indicating that Douglas and Bamford miss the game. Cooper is back involved and could play. "For me it's not an excuse. We have an obligation to win the next game and we can win it."

Comment deleted by Article Creator

Will you need additions?

I have answered this question clearly. I am clear in my response. We are lacking ten players, ten players are absent, if the club can bring players, we will take them only if they are better than the players we have. In the next few weeks we will have Dallas with us and Berardi with us and Phillips with us, we will have Brown with us, we will have Bamford with us, we will have Douglas with us, so among the ten absences we will have a substantial reduction of these absences. That's why I clearly say that if nobody comes we will solve the problem anyway and I can't give you the positions because it depends on the quality of the players. If we need a midfielder and if we can bring him but if he's not good we won't take him. We will add and bring players that will be better than those we have that means a lasting important investment for the club and that can solve the fact that these players left who were not expected to leave. The main investment that the club did couldn't be an addition to us, because the main investment was Bamford who got injured and came back and got injured again and Blackman also has an injury that will take six months. Dallas and Berardi also suffered sever injuries. And the club can't forecast all these things.

Do you propose players to Orta?

"No. He proposes players to me and I give him my opinion."
Could you get someone who has played for you before: "Why do you ask this question? The one who is looking is Victor, he looks at the transfer window and he tells me the possibilities and I give my point of view on it and honestly he hasn't mentioned any player that I had before. But if it was the case, I am sure he would talk about it with me."


On Pablo

I think he could play the game on Friday, I can'y say 100 per cent he won't play but if there is even a small doubt I wouldn't like to take any risks with him that he gets injured again, I think if it's up to him I think he would play the game. But I think he should play only if we are sure that the injury can't get worse.

How important is it that you win?

We need to win the game because the last two Championship games, because we are playing always against a team who is going up and they are play with a style and if we can win against them and take into account the style they are using to play it will be a very positive for us.

Will Cooper start?

I went to see the game versus Hull City (23s) he played an hour, he is in good condition to come back to the team. He has a very good first pass, he is good in the air, he is our captain and he deserves to be our captain and when he is inside the team he always makes the team stronger.
He is an addition to the team. When Ayling, Jansson, Phillips, Berardi and Cooper play we have five very good headers and when you don't have them this effects the team.

Will the Derby game be different to the last one?

Derby is not the same team anymore, they are lot better now as a team. So I don't think it is going to be the same game. But what I think is that we have the conditions to try to win against them. But we can't rely on the fact that we played against them five months ago, I don't think they will be similar games. Both teams are very different.

How are the rested players

Klich needed to rest to get some rest. He played all the games with us and his national team, Pablo had the injury that he still has now, Jansson had a small problem that is now over, Cooper came back after many several week's absences.

Nightmare

Comment deleted by Article Creator

Derby will be itching to get to Elland Road, they're probably on there way. The only good thing is we have a handful of players back next week, Berardi, Dallas, Cooper, Bamford and Co. 👌🏻

How will you replace Pablo if he is out?

Roberts will play if Pablo doesn't play. He had three chances to score (against QPR) so this is very good for a no 10. Then in the build up of the offensive play he didn't have the same impact, he was influential because he participated in three important chances to score but he didn't build the offensive play that could help the team. Pablo builds the attacks and Tyler is more focused on finishing the attacks and with Klich he can adapt to any player that plays with him.

Barry Douglas latest

Between two and three weeks but I can't give you a final answer to that.

Would this be the most satisfying win if you can get it?

The problems that the teams has are not an excuse to try not to win the game. If you have a look, Douglas and Pablo are missing and we can find a solution for both positions.


That's it from Marcelo

Will the last fit player please turn off the lights on Thursday evening after training ......

@PhilHayYEP
2m2 minutes ago
More
That's a wrap. A lot to take in there, and Bielsa struggling on through half an hour with a heavy cold. Main news is that Hernandez is a serious doubt for Derby. Bielsa wanted Baker to stay. Nothing to report on incoming transfers.

Will probably be a defeat on Friday, let's be honest.

If the club don't buy at least 3 players to help cover these injury's, we'll slip out of contention very quickly.

Even Bielsa isn't at full fitness. Pablo is a massive loss, but chance for Roberts to show what he can do. He delivered earlier in the season when played, so let's hope he steps up again.

Silver lining for me is, we get to see more of Roberts.
That kid has a ton more to give. Still growing.

Might be a good idea for anyone going to the game on Friday night to bring their boots