Marcelo Bielsa has told his Leeds players to focus on themselves as they near the finishing line in the promotion race.
Leeds need seven points to end their 16-year exile from the Premier League, but must handle the added pressure of playing after rivals West Brom and Brentford.
They play on Saturday, while Leeds face Swansea on Sunday, and skipper Liam Cooper says Bielsa has told them not to worry about them.
“You’ve got to be professional,” said Cooper. “Obviously we prepare the same, everything’s the same, we’re just playing last.
“We’d be lying if we said we didn’t look at the other results because it’s that time of the season where everybody does, but we know what we need to do.
“We know we need to concentrate on us, and us only, and the rest will take care of itself.
“We can only worry about ourselves. Don’t worry about anybody else and that’s been the message all week, especially from the manager. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing, worry about us.”
Leeds handled the pressure of playing after West Brom and Brentford perfectly by demolishing Stoke 5-0 on Thursday to record the biggest home win of Bielsa’s two-year reign.
Cooper says that is the standard they must maintain over their last four games.
“Obviously everyone is going to say it’s a statement, but we’re just pleased with the three points,” said the centre-half.
“The pressure was on with West Brom and Brentford getting good results.
“It was professional. It was us, it was our identity and the way we play. We enjoyed it - who doesn‘t enjoy those types of games?
“We know what we’ve got to do to be at our best and that all came out against Stoke.
“But we’ve got to go and do that every game now until the end of the season. That’s the most important thing to us.
“At the end of the day, it’s three points and we look forward to Sunday now.”
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