Carlos Corberan explains Aapo Halme substitution after Bielsa’s blunt answer

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Leeds United lost 2-1 to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Leeds United’s First Team Coach Carlos Corberan has told LUTV that Aapo Halme’s substitution against Queens Park Rangers was because he had been booked.

Leeds were in FA Cup action on Sunday afternoon, travelling down to Loftus Road to take on Queens Park Rangers in the Third Round of the competition.

Leeds fell behind as Aramide Oteh put QPR ahead from the penalty spot, after a foul on defender Jake Bidwell by left back Leif Davis.

The Whites hit back immediately though, as Aapo Halme scored from close range, but Leeds did lose 2-1 as Bidwell scored the winner with 15 minutes to play.

Marcelo Bielsa decided to play a youthful side at Loftus Road, with a host of youngsters playing in the game, earning valuable experience.

However, Halme was intriguingly substituted in favour of Tom Pearce at half time, and Bielsa’s blunt explanation to Leeds Live after the game was simply that the decision was ‘tactical’.

Now, Corberan has gone into more depth, noting that the staff were pleased with Halme’s performance, but he was on a yellow card and rather than risk him against pace at the back, Leeds subbed him and ensured they had 11 players on the pitch.

“I think Aapo Halme received one yellow card, we knew that they had a fast player trying to dribble into a one versus one,” said Corberan. “We had the chance to win the game, we know that if we play with one player less, it’s going to be complicated and the game is going to demand more. I think in these situations, sometimes you have to be clever, you have to think in what you need. Aapo was making a good game, we had no problem with the performance he showed,” he added.