Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Friday, October 1.
Bielsa lays out Watford threat
Marcelo Bielsa has highlighted the huge threat Watford can pose on the counter-attack this weekend.
The Hornets travel to Elland Road in what is shaping up as a must-win match for Leeds United.
However, Xisco Munoz's men have shown their capabilities without the ball, using the considerable pace of Ismaili Sarr, Emmanuel Dennis and Josh King to cause problems.
!They are a solid team, they're combative with players of experience that fundamentally complicate the development of the play of the opponent and they have forwards who are quick and can surprise you," he said in his pre-match press conference.
"They give a good compliment to the defensive aspect by asking [questions] in behind."
Cresswell development is a fine line
Damaging Charlie Cresswell’s long-term progress is the last thing Marcelo Bielsa wants to do and that may mean the Leeds United bench for the teenager tomorrow.
Despite thriving on his Premier League debut last weekend, the 19-year-old suddenly has the imposing figures of Diego Llorente and Pascal Struijk waiting in the wings.
After impressing against Championship Fulham in the EFL Cup last week, Cresswell found himself thrust into the world’s most-watched football league with Bielsa down to the bare bones.
While Struijk was serving the last of his three-game ban, Llorente was seeing out the final stages of his recovery from the muscular injury suffered nearly three weeks ago against Liverpool.
Bielsa maps out Gelhardt pathway
Leeds United teenager Joe Gelhardt joined the club from Wigan Athletic in the summer of 2020.
Highly-rated and tipped for big things by previous coaches, including those who work with the very best young players in the England youth setup, there was much intrigue surrounding Gelhardt's addition.
The intention was clear: for the teenager to develop within Mark Jackson's under-23 squad, where his future first-team candidacy would be assessed further down the line.
Marcelo Bielsa and his senior coaching staff have cast a close eye over his development and in the space of 15 months, there has been significant progress in the player's physical and tactical maturity.
