Chris Wilder is pleased that Leeds United head coach, Marcelo Bielsa, has changed his mind about the Sheffield United result.
Bielsa said he believed his side deserved the three points after Leeds won 1-0 at Bramall Lane last weekend through an 88th-minute Patrick Bamford header.
After the match, Wilder openly disagreed with his opponent. The Blades boss claimed that the visitors “produced a bit of quality to win the game”. Yet aside from that it was “pot shots from long distance”.
In contrast, Wilder said his team created the better opportunities. Goalkeeper Illan Meslier did pull off two fantastic saves to deny John Lundstram and then George Baldock.
Speaking ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Manchester City tomorrow, Bielsa appears to have changed his mind.
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“After the last game I thought that the victory would have been a fair one, but the opposition manager Chris Wilder thought that what I thought was a fair victory, was in fact not,” the 65-year-old was quoted by The Sheffield Star.
“I then listened to the arguments that he gave and I looked over what happened in the game and I understood, that justifiably, he could have the opinion that he did. Because they had very clear scoring opportunities.
“This makes me think the opinions that we have when the opponent is involved, we need to manage with caution. I would never have said victory was fair had I taken into consideration the arguments of the manager of Sheffield United. The arguments were good.”
Sheffield United boss pleased with Bielsa comments
(Photo by Oli Scarff – Pool/Getty Images)
Wilder’s men aren’t playing until Sunday, when they visit Arsenal in the top flight of English football.
In his own pre-match press conference, the Blades manager took time to praise Bielsa for admitting he was wrong.
“It’s fabulous and a refreshing change that, after watching the game back, he saw the game in the same light that I did,” Wilder said.
“I’ve got an awful amount of respect for Marcelo, and they won a tight game. All games in the Premier League are going to be tight but we’re here to pick up results as well as play well.”
Unfortunately, deserving a win isn’t the same as actually securing one. Which is something Wilder’s team needs to do quickly.
They have lost all three of their league fixture so far this season. They are also the only team in the top four divisions of English football yet to score a league goal.
