Fulham boss Scott Parker has clarified his comments on Leeds United after labelling them 'robotic' last season.
The Whites beat the Cottagers after the Championship restart at Elland Road having lost 2-1 at Craven Cottage earlier in the season.
With both sides earning promotion to the Premier League, the two are set to meet once again on Saturday.
Parker's side slipped to an opening day 3-0 defeat to Arsenal, while Leeds put up a brave fight at Anfield and were narrowly beaten 4-3.
So, ahead of this weekend's clash, here's everything Parker had to say about Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa and the Whites' Liverpool performance.
Last season Marcelo Bielsa maybe didn't take too kindly to you suggesting Leeds were robotic, what did you mean by that?
I think I said that after the home game, I'm not sure I used the word robotic. It was probably, it was a compliment to Leeds. I'm sure Marcelo didn't have an issue with it, it was probably what everyone wanted to build up. It was more that it's a team are well-drilled, well-structured and it was more along those lines.
A tough side we're playing against and we all know that - we see that when they played against Liverpool. Every team, every manager, every player that goes up against a Leeds team fully understand what they're up against because that's the way they're coached.
Familiar with Leeds, does that help?
We're familiar because of last year and like you say we've played recently. That can only help. They've improved the squad during the summer. Already a team that had quality has strengthened as well.
What did you make of their performance against Liverpool?
They're a very good team and a team that has been together for two and a half years. They understand their roles and physically very powerful side. It didn't surprise me what we saw at Anfield. I suspect that will be the case for large parts of this year.
Shocked at how close Leeds vs Liverpool was?
It wasn't a surprise for me at all. I watched large parts of Leeds last year. They're a team we looked at a lot. They're a physical, well-drilled team.
I'm not going to be surprised when they carry on doing that throughout the year. The team has been settled for some time under the management and understand what is expected of them. Is it a concern, no not really, it's a challenge we're relishing and looking forward to.
We played them twice already, one we've won and one we've lost on both occasions we tried to win the game and that won't change this time.
