Matching Bielsa’s best record
Avoid defeat and Jesse Marsch will have taken Leeds United to an unbeaten six-match run which equals the best spell Marcelo Bielsa had in the Premier League. Also in late April, Bielsa took Leeds to six without defeat 12 months ago, but that run included Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United.
It seems like a massive ask for this Leeds incarnation, languishing in a top-flight relegation battle, to hold off a title-challenging City, but if they do, this is the kind of streak Marsch will be on. The quality of football has come under scrutiny, but the results cannot be argued with.
Guardiola’s Bielsa homage?
It has been widely documented how much respect Pep Guardiola has for Bielsa and he spoke glowingly about the Argentine’s Leeds side when they met three times across the past two seasons. It will be intriguing to see if Guardiola sees fit to say anything about Bielsa’s legacy at Elland Road, or about the identity of this Leeds team, after Saturday’s match.
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Klich or Koch?
Marsch was fairly clear in saying Mateusz Klich was taken off at half-time during Monday's Crystal Palace draw because he needed to see more defensive solidity in his side. With the American now faced with the best team in the division, it seems predictable Robin Koch will be drafted in from the start for the same reasons.
Will that be the case, or will Marsch look for Klich as an outlet of that aggression he has asked for around the pragmatism needed to guard against this City juggernaut?
Feeling the Elland Road hype
You know it’s a big game when the Jack Charlton Stand is covered with a fan display at Elland Road. On Friday night, the club tweeted a picture with Yorkshire spelt out in cards across the lower tier.
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you cannot knock the club’s efforts in trying to at least hype the atmosphere and build the feeling this could be a special day.
A long-awaited season-defining result?
We have waited all season for that one result or performance which makes your eyes fall out of your head. West Ham United away is probably the clubhouse leader, but how does the scalp of the league leaders sound?
Before you guffaw, reflect on last season. What would you have said if someone had told you Leeds would beat City away from home, with a one-man disadvantage for more than half the match?
Guardiola’s side have lost once in 23 league matches. If Marsch were to pick up three points on Saturday it would be some platform for building his legacy upon in the months ahead.
