Leeds United beat Sheffield United 1-0 on Saturday.
Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has admitted to Leeds Live that it’s difficult to defend Ezgjan Alioski by saying he played well against Sheffield United.
The Whites made the short trip across Yorkshire to take on the Blades at Bramall Lane, with both sides keen to keep their promotion hopes going.
It looked like the game would peter out into a 0-0 draw as the sides struggled to break each other down, before Dean Henderson made a terrible error, passing the ball straight to Jack Clarke, who crossed for Pablo Hernandez to score.
Leeds claimed their 1-0 win and will now look to build on that against Queens Park Rangers next weekend, but Alioski’s role in the team may be under threat.
The Macedonian winger started at Sheffield United but was hooked at half time in favour of Clarke, and he may now be at risk of losing his place to Clarke on a more regular basis.
After the game, Bielsa spoke about Alioski, and admitted that it would be difficult to try and defend Alioski by saying that he played well, when it was clear that he was substituted at half time over his performance.
Bielsa did though suggest that Alioski’s rigorous schedule – Championship and international games – is taking it’s toll on Alioski, and promised that the winger will still have a major role going forward.
“It would be difficult to defend a position where you switch a player after 45 minutes and say he played very well. It was not a tactical substitution, it was not a substitution because he got injured,” said Bielsa. “The value I give to Alioski is important, it’s still the same. My opinion regarding him is still the same. He will always have influence in the team.”
“So far Alioski played 30 games, taking into account all the Championship games and international games and it’s hard to think you can play 30 games without having ups and downs. It’s hard. He’s an important player of the team.” he added.
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