Here are your Leeds United evening headlines for Saturday June 20.
Bielsa reveals why Leeds have not played friendlies during break
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has explained why the club chose not to play any friendlies during the enforced break from football.
The Whites, who travel to Cardiff in their return to Championship action on Sunday, decided to keep their preparations in-house.
The likes of Everton, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Burnley and Sheffield United were potential friendly opponents, but Bielsa was content for his players to get up to speed amongst themselves.
“In the last four weeks we had three players per position, so we had three teams and this allows us to do a lot of football training, very, very useful for us,” he said .
“We think in this way was going to be enough for us. We have prepared to continue with the preparation as we plan. We could have played, maybe a friendly match, but when you organise something there are some difficulties that are logical. We prefer to continue without this way.”
The lesson Leeds must learn from December’s draw against Cardiff
Leeds will need to focus on defending balls into the box if they are to avoid a repeat of December’s 3-3 draw against Leeds at Elland Road .
Marcelo Bielsa’s side were 3-0 up in that game but threw away their lead in the second half.
It was a result that ended a seven-game winning run in the Championship and preceded a dip in form that saw Leeds almost drop out of the top two.
“There is no way we should have drawn that game," Bielsa said in the aftermath of the draw.
“I did not get the preparation right because I knew about Cardiff City's strengths and we didn't resolve it. We knew how dangerous they are in the air and from set-pieces.”
Bielsa, famed for his rigorous analysis of games, will no doubt be better prepared this time around.
Leeds striker set to leave club at the end of June
Leeds have not yet decided on the future of Jean-Kevin Augustin, whose loan at the club expires on June 30.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay has revealed that the French striker’s position at Leeds remains in doubt as the Championship season gets back underway.
Augustin has struggled to make an impact since arriving from RB Leipzig, making just three appearances and struggling with injuries.
Leeds have, however, extended the loans of Jack Harrison, Illan Meslier, Ben White and Helder Costa, while Gaetano Berardi’s contract has been extended until the end of the season.
