Here is your Leeds United morning digest for Thursday, September 24.
Manchester City fixture change announced
The kick-off time for Leeds United’s upcoming match against Manchester City has been announced, having been moved for live broadcast.
Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites will face City in the early evening 17:30 slot next Saturday, October 3 and will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports News.
With two seven-goal thrillers so far, Leeds are proving box office for the broadcasters - while the meeting with City will have extra narrative value as Pep Guardiola faces his old mentor for the first time since 2012.
The two managers haven’t faced off on the touchline since the 2012 Copa del Rey final, Guardiola’s final match in charge of Barcelona - a 3-0 victory over Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao.
Here’s all the details .
Real Sociedad expert gives Llorente lowdown
Diego Llorente is set to become United’s third major first-team signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Robin Koch and Rodrigo.
LeedsLive has spoken to Read Sociedad expert and Noticias de Gipuzkoa journalist Mikel Recalde to get the full lowdown on the Spain international.
“The Premier League is a very different, very physical championship and perhaps he suffers a little at the beginning, especially because of the powerful forwards,” he writes.
“But he is a centre-back who adapts well, who has very good conditions and I don't think he will suffer much to acclimate to both his new club and his new league.”
Here’s everything he had to say about Llorente, his style of playing, his strengths and weaknesses, and his chances of continuing to get picked for Luis Enrique’s Spain squad.
Former Liverpool cult hero praises Bielsa’s Leeds
Ex-Liverpool midfielder and Argentina international Maxi Rodriguez has praised Leeds under Bielsa.
The Rosario-born winger is still playing at the age of 39, in his third stint with boyhood club Newell’s Old Boys - and he has plenty of admiration and respect for their legendary former coach.
"If it were not for Marcelo, we would not look at certain teams," he told Sportia.
"Now we are all Leeds fans. We shout the goals and watch all the games."
Rodriguez also revealed that Bielsa sent him a signed Leeds shirt shortly after he was appointed as manager back in 2018.
