Marcelo Bielsa has said that Leeds need to be more ‘careful’ about committing fouls during matches.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the Argentine said: “We need to be more careful about committing fouls.
“It is an equation which is very difficult, but you have to look at the danger of an attack at the point a foul is committed, and compare it to the danger there would be after a foul, when the opposition have their free-kick. It demands a lot of maturity to understand which situation is more dangerous.”
Bielsa isn’t insisting that his side foul opponents too often, but he’s placing emphasis on where and when an offence takes place.
For example, WhoScored shows that the Yorkshire-based outfit rank seventh in the Premier League fouls-per-game charts, committing 11 fouls every 90 minutes.
In that respect, the Whites aren’t serial offenders.
What Bielsa is trying to get across is that each foul committed by his players needs context.
The former Marseille boss says it ‘demands a lot of maturity to understand’ when it’s better to commit a foul or allow the opposition’s attack to play out, and he’s right.
With the hectic, fast-paced nature of the Premier League, it can require a split second for a player to judge whether giving away a freekick will benefit his side more than allowing an attack to continue.
Seeing as Leeds often attack in numbers, leaving the backline exposed, this is a dilemma which requires a lot of thought.
When rushing back to defend, Bielsa’s midfielders or attackers need to know when’s best to commit a professional foul, or allow the game to go on.
It’s interesting to hear the Argentine’s thoughts on the topic, and if anyone can coach his side to do this effectively, it’s Bielsa.
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