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Pundit Liam Rosenior believes Leeds United have struggled for form because of the ‘spy-gate’ scandal, per the Hull Daily Mail.
Manager Marcelo Bielsa admitted last month that he had sent a member of his staff to watch Derby County train, before then further claiming to have done the same for every opponent Leeds have faced this season.
What’s the word?
Bielsa’s admission has led to a hefty fine from the EFL, worth £200,000.
Since his revelation, on January 16, Leeds have won just two of their five games in the Championship, against Rotherham and Swansea City.
That form has seen them slip out of the automatic promotion places, and Rosenior believes that the scandal has served as a distraction to the Whites’ players.
Speaking on The Debate, via the Hull Daily Mail, he said: “A points deduction would have been a little bit harsh seeing as though there was no set law or precedent for what Bielsa did in terms of sending someone to watch Derby to train.
“But at the same time for the game it was wrong and even Bielsa has held his hands up. Now it gives Leeds an opportunity to move forward. It’s no coincidence for me that when this spygate stuff started coming out that their form began to tail off.
“They have a lot of young players who haven’t experienced real pressure and I started to see dips in their performances. This is now finished and now the focus is on getting the club back to the Premier League.”
Move on and get up
Leeds are tantalisingly close to promotion, sitting level on points with second-placed Sheffield United but holding a game in hand. They are only two behind leaders Norwich City.
And Rosenior is right to claim that the focus is now simply on promotion.
The EFL’s investigation into what Bielsa said had become something of a sideshow but there are no excuses now.
Leeds have been one of the best teams in the Championship, and should, given their form this season, be claiming their spot in the top-flight next season.
It is now down to Bielsa to ensure there are no more slip-ups.
