Watch Derby vs Leeds in the Championship play-off semi-final first leg on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Football from 5pm (kick-off 5:15pm)
Thursday 9 May 2019 16:02, UK
Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa has revealed he and his players have agreed not to put the ball out of play if an opposition player is injured in their Championship play-off against Derby.
Bielsa's side sparked controversy in their recent league game with Aston Villa when they refused to kick the ball out to allow treatment for Villa striker Jonathan Kodjia, a decision that led to angry scenes on the pitch.
Leeds were eventually instructed by Bielsa to allow Villa to walk the ball in to make the game 1-1.
But to avoid further confusion, Bielsa issued a prepared statement at the end of his news conference ahead of Saturday's game with the Rams at Pride Park, live on Sky Sports.
"We have reached the common decision with the players," said Bielsa.
"We decide to adapt 100 per cent to the rules and we understand that if we have one player [down] we understand that we don't have to put the ball out of the pitch.
"We also think that if a player from the opposing team is down, we shouldn't interrupt the play and put the ball out. We all know that the person that has to take this decision is the referee.
"But we don't want to disappoint any of our fans or the fans of the other team, we think because it's what the rules say that the person that has to make the decision is the referee. We just want to find a solution to this doubt.
"Before the game we will tell the referee and the head coach of Derby and the captain of Derby that we will behave like that.
"We think we are doing the right thing, I hope I am not wrong. I don't want to take the risk that my logic goes against the deeply-rooted habit here."
As for the game itself and how Leeds' players will adapt to featuring in the play-offs having occupied an automatic promotion place on many occasions during the season, Bielsa insisted the chance of being promoted via a Wembley final will be sufficient motivation.
"It's an episode everyone wants to live. Both games are going to be very attractive, and the winner will play at Wembley, which will be a spectacle," he added.
"The winners of the final will go to the Premier League, and you can't have a bigger goal than this."
