Garry Monk claims his old club Leeds will expect to win promotion back to the Premier League this season.
Monk narrowly missed out on the play-offs during his one season in charge of Leeds in 2016-17 and says they are determined to go up this year.
Monk returns to Elland Road with Sheffield Wednesday in a Yorkshire derby on Saturday and said: “Of course, they are a very, very good side and that’s why they are top of the league.
“I’ve said it all along, the ambition of that club is clear. They have invested over the last couple of seasons in their players and their squad.
“Last year, I said at the start, they decided this was going to be the year for them and now they’re having another right go at it. They’ll be expecting to do it this time.”
Monk has two wins and one draw from his three meetings with Marcelo Bielsa with Birmingham and Wednesday and says he is working on a game plan to stop him again.
“I’ve come up against the manager’s teams three times now, this will be the fourth time over last season and this,” said the former Swansea boss.
“My job, like always, is to focus on ourselves and respect the strengths they have and try and put a game plan in place to try and beat them.
“That’s what we we do for every game, especially when we’re up against such a good side.”
Bielsa, whose Leeds side have won just one of their last five league games, claims he cannot hide from Monk’s great record against him.
“We cannot ignore this reality,” said the Leeds head coach. “But we will do everything we can to win this match.”
Bielsa also praised midfielder Kalvin Phillips for his fine display in Monday’s FA Cup loss at Arsenal as he prepares to face Wednesday’s Barry Bannan.
“Kalvin’s playing excellent,” he said. “He always plays and he always plays well. He makes a lot of effort for the team.
“He has character and a good personality. He takes risks. The responsibility doesn’t inhibit him. In the last match he played against Mesut Ozil and Joe Willock, I think he performed very well in this exam.”
