Bielsa reacts as Pablo Hernandez furious after being subbed for Leeds v Leicester
Pablo Hernandez was left fuming after being subbed off in the second half of the game for Leeds United on Monday night.
Leeds ended up losing 4-1 after two late goals from Leicester. The score was just 2-1 with Leeds in the ascendancy when Hernandez was hauled off.
Hernandez reacted by staring towards the bench before making a long, slow walk back to the dugout shaking his head and muttering to himself.
He also kicked a water bottle as he made it very clear what he thought of the substitution.
Marcelo Bielsa was asked about his reaction after the game and said, “If the reaction he had after my decision was to kick a bottle, what can I do?”
Bielsa insisted that he was right to take Hernandez off for Tyler Roberts and said he thought it was a change that was needed.
No issue here
This was just the second start of the season for Pablo Hernandez, who was missing through injury for three games after the 4-3 defeat to Liverpool.
Rodrigo would likely have started the game if he hadn’t been forced into self-isolation after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19.
Hernandez wasn’t at his best but almost came up with an equaliser from a moment of brilliance in the second half last night.
He hit the corner of the bar and the upright with a curling shot from outside the box and the game could have taken a really different path if that had gone in.
It’s fair to say that the substitution didn’t work. Hernandez had grown into the game and looked like the player who could change things. Roberts was ineffectual.
As for the reaction, we love players who have passion like Hernandez and we don’t have an issue with it.
We also love the indifference shown by Bielsa to the question. For him, what Hernandez does is outside of his sphere of influence.
His lack of ego means he doesn’t take it as a slight. All his focus is on the decision he made at the time.
Unfortunately, we think it was the wrong one at the wrong time.
In other Leeds United news, Athletic: Leeds United handed big blow after major news announced