‘Fuming’, ‘Rather my mum plays’ – Some Leeds fans react as Phil Hay posts team news v Stoke
Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t name his Leeds United starting XI in his pre-match press conference like he used to but he might as well have done this time around.
The big question was whether he’d stick with the team that beat Blackburn 3-1 on Saturday or reinstate Stuart Dallas and Helder Costa.
Both of these players are in his usual starting XI but both sat out the game at Ewood Park injured.
Barry Douglas and Gjanni Alioski came in and Douglas, in particular, put in a blinding performance.
However, Bielsa confirmed in his press conference that he will start Dallas and Costa if they’re fit.
As quoted by Leeds Live Bielsa said, “Probably Dallas and Costa play. Today they trained normally. In case they are not able to play, Douglas and Alioski are going to play instead.”
The Athletic journalist Phil Hay also relayed the early team news and plenty of Leeds fans reacted to his post, with many thinking it’s harsh on Douglas. Others aren’t happy at the prospect of Costa coming back in.
Douglas has had a tough season – Saturday’s game was only his fifth start and we thought he’d done enough to hold onto the left-back spot.
However, we know that Bielsa is a big fan of Dallas and it seems there are certain players who will come straight back in if they sit out through injury.
It’s a battle between not changing a winning team and putting out the XI that you think is the best and that you’ve relied on all season. The latter seems to have won out in this case, although there are some fans who don’t agree.
One called the decision ‘strange’ and another railed against Costa coming back into the side saying, “Rather my mum played than Costa.”
Costa hasn’t been at his best since the season resumed.
However, Leeds fans being slightly miffed about Bielsa’s starting XI is par for the course and at least this particular decision is a distraction from the usual debate about Patrick Bamford.
Here are the best reactions from Leeds fans…
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