Stoke City will be looking to end their poor run when they take on Leeds United at the weekend.
Nathan Jones has honestly stated that Stoke City’s weekend clash with Championship leaders Leeds United is ‘the best game’ they can have.
Former Luton Town boss Jones has only won three games since being appointed Stoke boss in January, and on Wednesday night his team suffered a humiliating 3-1 defeat at Preston, whilst Leeds were beating Brentford.
It is a fixture that Jones won last season and it is fair to say that he desperately needs three more points on Saturday because it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Stoke part ways with him if things continue to go south.
Speaking to Sky Sports Football after the Preston defeat (21/08/2019), Jones didn’t hide his honest thoughts on coming up against Bielsa’s side despite his team being in such a rut.
“It’s probably the best game we can have really,” Jones told Sky Sports Football. “They are as good as a side there is in the league. In how they go about their job, in how they go about in everything they do.
“It’s a tough game, but it is one that whets the appetite a little bit. We have to be far better in terms of certain basics that we did [against Preston] and then hopefully we will develop from there.”
In a strange way, this game could prove to be more difficult for Leeds because a lot will be expected of them, and that against a team that many would have been tipping for promotion before a ball was kicked this season.
But, on the other hand, the Whites have a chance to pounce on Stoke’s current form, and if they continue to produce poor performances, then their home crowd at the weekend will make sure they hear about it – all of which works in Leeds’ favour.
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