The five key quotes from Marcelo Bielsa's pre-Crystal Palace press conference

The Whites boss spoke to the media ahead of the fixture

The five key quotes from Marcelo Bielsa's pre-Crystal Palace press conference
Photo by Michael Regan via Getty Images
rossmillen
By Ross Millen

Leeds United travel to Selhurst Park on Saturday to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

It's their eighth game of the season and the Whites are looking to bounce back from their 4-1 defeat to Leicester City on Monday night at Elland Road.

Currently, United sit in 12th ahead of the fixture but could move as high as 6th, depending on other results around them on the weekend.

Marcelo Bielsa spoke to the media before the game and we at VAVEL have rounded up the five key quotes.

The latest on absent players

Leeds United have been missing several players in the last few weeks but Bielsa has given an update.

"The situation with Rodrigo will be evaluated next week.

"[Diego] Llorente and [Kalvin] Phillips won’t be available for the game on Saturday and the rest are in conditions to participate."

Meanwhile, Raphinha had been sidelined but a decision is yet to be made on him.

"I haven’t decided just yet. We’re going to wait until tomorrow to see if it is convenient whether we can count on him or not."

On Rodrigo's positive test for Coronavirus

Rodrigo came into contact with a family member who had Coronavirus and since tested positive and therefore missed out against Leicester City.

The positive test also means that the Spanish international also misses the Palace game.

"For every position on the pitch we have various options, we have some options. In the number nine and number ten position, Rodrigo is an option, but he is not the only option.

"It’s always good to have everybody available but the design of the squad is that so we can solve these problems.

"When a player is missing we cannot say he is not missed because that wouldn't be the case but also because he’s missing it doesn't mean we can't resolve his absence. For every game all teams are missing four or five players.

"He is training individually by himself and at the moment he is the only case that we have in the institution.

"Thanks to the firmness of the medical team, the rules were issued very strictly and this is something I have thanked the medical team for."

The response to the Leicester defeat

It's been a tough week for Leeds United who have been desperately trying to forget the 4-1 defeat to the Foxes on Monday.

Although Bielsa is keen to not dwell on it too much.

"The response will be evaluated in the performance in the next game.

"The response is always subject to the result in the next game. What happens during the week we don’t give too much importance to it"​​​​​​."

The evolution of the under-23's

The under-23's have been closely watched by many people this season after heavily investing in the summer with some big signings but also after being promoted to an academy one side.

It's the first season that the Whites have featured in the Premier League 2 and there have been some stand out performers.

Joe Gelhardt is one player that stands out a lot after his move from Wigan Athletic in the summer, and Bielsa recognises him.

"He is a player that is progressing. The evolution of the whole under-23s team, we follow it closely.

"We analyse every performance of the under-23s as if it were the first team and because normally we train with 22 players and when we are missing any of those 22 players then we substitute them with some of the under-23s.

"I think that around fifty percent of the players in the under-23s can apply for a place on our team."

Adhering to the new lockdown rules

Professional football has been allowed to continue across England this lockdown after being suspended the previous lockdown.

Extra testing facilities available has made this possible, although there are very strict protocols.

When asked about players following the rules, Bielsa said:

"The players are also citizens and all citizens should abide by the rule.

"Perhaps I’m not the best person to talk as I once went to a supermarket without wearing my mask."