Ian Harte reveals Leeds players will be dropped if they don’t meet one Bielsa expectation
Ian Harte has claimed that if Leeds United players don’t meet the weight expected of them, they will not get selected on matchday.
The Whites defender believes that Marcelo Bielsa will order his players to get straight back on to the exercise bike if his players don’t hit their targets when being weighed daily at Thorp Arch.
Harte claims that is one of the reasons why the Leeds squad are so strong and lean and are able to dominate other teams across 90 minutes in the Championship.
Harte admitted that he is hoping to see exactly the same should his former side return to the Premier League next season.
“I think that they get weighed every day and if they don’t meet the weight then they have to go on the bike and then they’re not picked for selection,” he told Football League World.
“I think that’s what happens so that’s why the lads are all so lean, mobile and getting around the pitch and that’s why they’re going like that for 90-odd minutes every game.
“They’re grinding teams down and the football that they play is so nice to watch when they’re on-song. But, we’ll be hoping to see a bit more of that next year if we’re playing against all of the Premier League teams.”
Being present at Thorp Arch to watch the under-23s frequently this season, we have seen first-hand how hard first-team players are pushed by Bielsa and his staff.
Take Tyler Roberts and his latest injury for example. The Welsh international was sent out onto one of the training pitches and did nothing but run laps continuously for nearly 45 minutes, without even touching a ball to prove his fitness.
It is hard work, but it is certainly worth it as you can see Leeds dominate opposing teams on and off the ball every single week, and that is one of the main reasons they currently sit top of the Championship.
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