Marcelo Bielsa: Raphinha was NOT injured

Marcelo Bielsa confirms Raphinha was NOT injured when the Leeds boss hooked him at half-time in sorry 3-0 loss to Everton – claiming it was a ‘tactical’ decision in a ‘very difficult’ game

  • Marcelo Bielsa confirmed Raphinha wasn’t injured when he was substituted at half-time against Everton
  • Leeds capitulated to a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park to leave them in 15th place
  • Bielsa said the Raphinha decision was ‘tactical’  in a ‘very difficult’ game 

Leeds United’s horror show at Goodison was underlined by Marcelo Bielsa hooking star player Raphinha after 45 minutes after the Brazilian was kept quiet by makeshift Everton’s left-back Jonjoe Kenny – normally the reserve right-back.

Bielsa, whose three substitutions were all used before the second half started, confirmed Raphinha had been removed for tactical reasons, raising eyebrows as Leeds were already without Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips.

‘He is not injured. I decided that Daniel James should take over his role on the right and Tyler Roberts take over in the centre,’ said Bielsa whose side aren’t safe and face Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham next.

Marcelo Bielsa said subbing Raphinha at half-time versus Everton was a ‘tactical’ move and not due to injury

One of Leeds’ best players, many assumed Raphinha (left) was injured and therefore subbed

‘It was a fair result today. There was a difference. This game was very difficult for us to defend in. We couldn’t anticipate their forwards and we couldn’t manage to attack.’

Bielsa also took responsibility for having to take off Mateusz Klich at the interval having already lost Stuart Dallas to injury.

‘I put Mateusz Klich in front of our three centre-backs and he couldn’t so what he does best, which is make runs in attack. It was an error on my part,’ said the Argentine. ‘I assigned a task to him that was going to be difficult for him to do.’

Leeds fell to a poor 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park that piled pressure on them and gave Everton three much-needed points

Winning manager Frank Lampard was left drooling over a first Everton start for Donny van de Beek who was used in a deep role but also broke forward to help set up the key opening goal.

‘I’m not surprised Donny fitted in straight away because I know he has a work ethic and intelligence,’ said Lampard.

‘He can play a number of positions which is why I moved for him so quickly. He has the talent to play between the lines. He can play higher.’

Bielsa also owned up to his ‘error’ in playing  Mateusz Klich (left) out of position in the match

There was also a resurgence in form of Alex Iwobi who had been booed by fans under Rafa Benitez.

‘A new manager is reboot for everybody. Alex has got his heads down in training and the way he’s performed, he’s demanding a place in the team,’ added Lampard.

‘He just needs to believe in himself. I certainly believe in him.’ 




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