Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa confesses admiration for Sheffield United

Image: Marcelo Bielsa has been impressed by Sheffield United this season

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa says Saturday's opponents Sheffield United are one of the teams he has learned the most from this season.

Leeds are just two points ahead of third-placed Sheffield United and could leapfrog Norwich and go top of the Championship with a win against their Yorkshire rivals at Elland Road, live on Sky Sports Football at lunchtime on Saturday.

It now looks like a three-horse race for two automatic-promotion places to the Premier League and Bielsa has confessed his admiration for Chris Wilder's side.

"The team's [performances] talk about the coach that they have," Bielsa said.

Image: Chris Wilder's side are on a nine-match unbeaten run

"The team says a lot about their coach and I have learnt a lot from Sheffield United, it's one of the teams that I have learnt the most from this season.

Advertisement

"They have a new style of playing and they have been faithful to their style during the whole season.

"Each player is giving the best of himself and if you have a look at the players of Sheffield United before this season, you see clearly an evolution."

Also See:

Image: Pablo Hernandez celebrates his 82nd-minute winner against Sheffield United

Leeds needed an 82nd-minute Pablo Hernandez strike to beat the Blades 1-0 in December's reverse fixture, and Bielsa is expecting a similarly difficult task for his side this weekend.

"When we played against them it was a hard win," he said.

"We probably didn't deserve to win, and for us it is a big challenge to play against them and to try to win this game. Our goal is to overcome Sheffield United and win against them."

Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.

Outbrain