‘It’s impossible’ – Sky pundit makes big claim about Leeds & Bielsa ahead of restart v Cardiff
Sky Sports pundit Matt Upson has said “it’s impossible” for Leeds United to play Marcelo Bielsa’s high-intensity football for 46 games in the Championship.
He said that Leeds ran out of steam last season because of that but, crucially, wouldn’t suffer the same fate again after an enforced break.
Talking on The Football Show (Sky Sports, Wednesday, 11am) Upson said, “I don’t think it’s sealed yet. The restart is going to be interesting. Because we’re restarting it opens it up a lot. It opens it to Fulham who can put a big run together.
“Leeds and West Brom have to put together a run of wins. But I think Leeds will see it through.
“I think it’s impossible to play with that intensity for 46 games across the Championship. So, for me, the break for Leeds could turn it into a positive thing.”
Leeds didn’t have a great run-in last season, to put it mildly.
The game against Wigan, after Leeds went one up and then the visitors were reduced to 10 men, still sticks in the minds of fans everywhere.
We’re not at all convinced it was a case of running out of gas, though, more a loss of nerve at the crucial point in the season.
Either way, it should be different this time.
If Upson’s ‘running out of gas’ theory does hold water then the break will have done Leeds good. And it’s true that they have started the last two seasons like a train.
If it was nerves, then the squad will have learned and because of that experience will be unlikely to make the same mistake again.
Three points on the board against Cardiff will make a huge difference and settle any nerves among fans.
Another three against Fulham and we’ll be all but up.
In other Leeds United news, BBC man relays crunch Covid-19 Championship results, 8 positives from 6 clubs ahead of kick-off