Marcelo Bielsa has explained his reasoning behind taking Tyler Roberts off for Leeds United today.
The Wales international only lasted an hour of this afternoon’s 3-1 win away Blackburn Rovers.
Roberts, a £4 million signing in 2018, was playing in a number 10 role, but the Leeds boss brought him off for Pablo Hernandez on 61 minutes.
The game was already effectively done and dusted for the Whites at that point, but Bielsa has told a post-match press conference that he felt the team needed Hernandez’s final ball, adding that Roberts was looking weak.
He told BBC West Yorkshire Sport: “We thought we needed his [Hernandez’s] play, to manage the ball and the final pass. At that moment Tyler was weaker physically.”
Bielsa’s side established a four-point cushion at the summit, but Brentford also won to ensure they’re still six points behind the Elland Road club with five games left.
Leeds are getting very, very close to sealing a Premier League return and it’s imperative they keep this up for the rest of the campaign.
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