The former Leeds United loanee is due to face his old side as a Reading player on Tuesday.
Marcelo Bielsa has reiterated that he didn’t want Lewis Baker to leave ahead of the Reading midfielder’s first meeting with Leeds United since quitting Elland Road in January.
Baker spent the first half of the season on loan at Leeds from Chelsea, but exercised an early exit having failed to feature regularly under Bielsa.
And the 23-year-old already looks to be justifying that decision, after making his ninth league appearance in Reading colours this weekend – meaning he is now just two short of his entire Whites tally.
Nevertheless, Bielsa shared a contrasting view when asked about Baker by the Yorkshire Evening Post on Monday.
“I wanted him to stay in our team,” the Argentine said. “I didn’t agree with the fact that he left.
“He didn’t need my agreement to leave but in his contract he had that option. I always had a lot of confidence in his skills.”
Baker drew praise from a number of Reading fans after helping his latest temporary employer to victory over Wigan on Saturday.
The Royals now sit 19th in the table ahead of Leeds’ visit, four places higher than they were when the Chelsea player arrived in Berkshire.
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