LIVE: Leeds United 3 Burnley 1
The Argentinian's group has been ravaged with absentees this term, with the numbers of side-lined senior squad members entering double figures through injury, suspension and coronavirus.
A small Covid outbreak in LS11 before Christmas saw matches against Liverpool and Aston Villa postponed over the festive period, meaning United haven't played in 15 days, since a heavy 4-1 defeat at home to Arsenal.
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Hide Ad"The reality that we’re facing is not only ours," Bielsa said during his pre-match press conference.
"I can’t say that a healthy player is in ideal conditions to compete, because when you haven’t competed for one month or three weeks, you need a period to reach that height, but that’s a reality, and the teams that we’re coming up against have similar problems."
Burnley have suffered similar struggles. Games against Watford, Aston Villa and Everton fell by the wayside due to the pandemic, while the fixture against Spurs at Turf Moor was also postponed late on because of weather/safety issues.
Sean Dyche has also been without leading scorer Maxwel Cornet, who limped off in the defeat against Newcastle United with a thigh strain while Ashley Barnes and Connor Roberts have also been unavailable.
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Hide AdMeanwhile, the squad was hit by Covid in the lead up to the meeting with Manchester United at Old Trafford as Nick Pope, Jay Rodriguez, Josh Brownhill and Kevin Long fell victim.
"The competition always compares the reality of two teams, so our problems [are ones] our opponents also have - that’s to say that the proportion is maintained between the two teams are competing.
"It’s not that we have problems and our opponents don’t, or that our opponents have problems that we don’t. The proportions are more or less similar.
"We all have difficulties that lower the level of the competition, the proportions of comparison are the same."
LIVE: Leeds United 3 Burnley 1
Wood off-target
Taylor does well to nip in front of Raphinha to win possession before picking out Wood, who fires over from the edge of the penalty area.
Another opportunity for Leeds
United, via Harrison and Roberts, work the ball into the Burnley box again, but Mee does enough to force Junior to lift his effort over the bar.
GOAL: Leeds United 1 Burnley 0
Tarkowski’s clearance is far too casual, Harrison capitalises, forcing a save from Hennessey with his left foot before tucking the ball away with his right.
How has he missed?
Ayling’s cross evades Tarkowski and, somehow, Harrison misses the target with a free header just yards from goal.
Huge chance
Wood gets ahead of his marker to meet Taylor’s cross but fails to make a true connection.
Clarets gifting the hosts possession
Hennessey's poor throw gifts possession back to the home side and Raphinha fires over from the edge of the box.
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