Marcelo Bielsa decided against bringing either of Leeds United’s defensive players on, with Aapo Halme and Leif Davis left on the bench.
Leeds turned their match around in the second half with just 10 men on the pitch, as goals from Jack Clarke and Gianni Alioski put them into the lead.
Bielsa immediately wanted to change Leeds’ tactics after they went ahead, but he couldn’t find any useful options on the bench.
In the end, Leeds’ failure to protect their lead proved costly, as they slipped to a 4-2 defeat.
And Bielsa said: “The players did a very big effort. When we scored the second goal I thought about a change to put a defender on instead of Phillips (?).
“Honestly I didn’t take a decision, but I could not find a useful player at that moment. Roofe was very helpful in attack. Hernandez was managing the times of the team. Klich was giving dynamics to our play. Clarke would create an imbalance on this side. Alioski was doing an important job on the left.”
Leeds did have defenders Leif Davis and Aapo Halme on the bench, and Bielsa’s comments may just show why Leeds need to make some additions in January.
Halme and Davis have both been utilised by Leeds this season, but it is interesting that Bielsa did not consider either ‘useful’ yesterday.
Halme or Davis are still both very young, and if Leeds had a more experienced option on the bench, a defensive change may have been more likely.
Bielsa has suggested that the Whites could struggle to make signings, but his lack of experienced defensive options clearly cost the team yesterday.
Leeds are still sat at the top of the table, but their advantage has been lessened, after two successive defeats.
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