Player Press Conferences

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

Klich up after MB:-

How big is the game?

Klich says it will be one of the most important games of his career.

Says they’re ready and they will win.

On the pressure

Says he enjoys the pressure.

‘You need it. It keeps you going. Losing the QPR game motivated us to destroy WBA at home.’

Says he can’t wait for the game.

Game at perfect time?

Says both sides are winning and scoring goals.

‘I really, really, really hope we’re going to play the same as we did in the last couple of games. We were good, strong, didn’t allow our opponents to do anything.’

Tough start to Leeds career helping now?

Says he’s enjoying being part of it. Couldn’t do it last year, but this is the best season of his life.

Has Bielsa transformed your career?

Says they are very positive and strong, very optimistic.

On scoring goals

Says this is his best season for scoring goals. But would take promotion with no goals personally.

Dealing with pressure?

Hard to say. Says he has been busy with his baby, but pressure motivates him.

How do you lighten the mood in the squad?

Says they always have a laugh, but knows the pressure of promotion is big for the whole city.

More on the game

Says he would prefer to be playing under the lights at 8pm.

Fans expect to win every game.

Agrees with Wilder that Leeds have been the best team this year, but they will keep fighting as the previous 37 games don’t mean anything now.

More on the game

Says he would prefer to be playing under the lights at 8pm.

Fans expect to win every game.

Agrees with Wilder that Leeds have been the best team this year, but they will keep fighting as the previous 37 games don’t mean anything now.

Dutch Cup win - does that help with build-up?

Says they had no pressure when he won the cup in Holland as they played Ajax.

Pressure is good and useful, motivates every player

How good did first half of Reading game feel?

‘I would love to have that half-time every game,’ he says. Goes on to talk about how important the first goal is.

How important has Pablo been?

Says he is Leeds’ best player and one of the best in the league.

On Mateusz Bogus

Says they talk and he tries to help him.

‘I can’t give him advice because he’s only 17 and he’s probably going to be a better player than me.’

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

Kalvin Phillips speaks about the Preston game:-

Starts with a question about expectations.

Believes Leeds can get automatic promotion, but if they keep playing how they are, they have a good chance.

Difficult to manage the emotions?

‘Yeah, it is really.

“It’s part of the game, exciting to be around the club at this time.’

Says he continues to feel the buzz, as do the other players.

Says the leaders in the team help them to go out and put performances on.

Putting pressure on Sheffield United

‘Yeah, we can do that.

‘It’s going to be one of those that goes right to wire.’

Happy with personal performance?

‘Obviously I’m happy. I’ve got that my team-mates and coaches.

‘Hopefully I can keep playing better and better and top it off with promotion.’

On winning place in Championship team of the year.

‘I wasn’t expecting it, I was surprise.

‘I feel I’ve done well, got to thank my team-mates and the coaches.’

Becoming a leader?

Says playing centre-back has helped him learn more about the game and has helped him become a leader.

On playing at the back

Says he will play wherever. Prefers playing central midfield, but will do whatever asked of him.

How important is tomorrow night?

Every game is important. Win would be nice to put the pressure on Sheffield United.

Says he’s not feeling the pressure more being local, but gets lots of questions from his family who all support Leeds.

Do all the players this season 'get' Leeds

‘I’m more Leeds than anyone can get, but the foreign players have come in and understood really quickly.’

Says the group is very close.

Where do they need to be better?

‘Pass the ball better. Fight for second balls more. Preston will come and fight so we need to play the football we’ve been playing.’

Enjoying it?

‘It’s an exciting time to be at the club. The manager has made a lot of changes to make the club and team a lot better.’

How tough is it for whoever finishes third?

‘It’ll be tough but we’ve not thought about that. We think about getting the win every game and about how to get better.’

Easy to forget how far the team has come this season?

‘Goes to show we’ve done really well. Been absolutely brilliant. Goes to show the work that’s gone in.’

Talking to players at other clubs?

‘You know a few people, Billy Sharp for example, but don’t really talk about football.

‘Hopefully I can ask him how the play-offs went at the end of the season!’

[Davycc]

Talking to players at other clubs?

‘You know a few people, Billy Sharp for example, but don’t really talk about football.

‘Hopefully I can ask him how the play-offs went at the end of the season!’

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

Tyler Roberts spoke to the press after MB:-

Bielsa on his best position - what do you think?

Started playing as a 10 lately. Prefer it in the centre. Enjoy it in there with the way this team plays.

Improved?

Different for me taking up positions. Enjoyed it. Big positive for me.

How different for you?

Given him a boost. Very different in taking up positions.

Would like to say he has made an impact.

What was your prediction at Leeds?

Expected nine, 10, but began as a seven.

Giggs likes him to come into the pockets.

Learned new movements for coming into that position. Been different, but enjoyed it.

Wants more goals

But the main objective is promotion.

Feels like the whole team is attacking and can get goals.

Wouldn’t say we feel pressure, more excitement and positivity flowing through the team.

Keep track of the table

We’ve got a job to do, that’s all that matters.

Wednesday

Tough team to play against. They’re fighting for the play-offs. Going to be a good game.

Sheff Utd

Kept checking the score and flicking the channels. We’ve got to win our five games and that’s all that matters.

Feels like a lot can still happen in the Championship. Insists they are looking at their own five games to win.

Wednesday

Have their own targets, not interested in doing over Leeds to help Sheffield Utd.

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

Roofe up after MB today:-

How are you feeling?

Injury frustrating. Enjoyed watching the boys and seeing a different view from the stands. A chance to learn.

Definitely developed my game. Seeing things the gaffer’s seeing from the sidelines which you can’t see while you’re playing.

Good watcher?

No! Kicking and heading everything. Good to watch. Entertaining. Refreshing to see what they do in training pay off in matches.

In your hands

Up to us if we get promoted. Great position to be in. Always talked about nothing more than the next game. That’s how it’s been all season. Move on after every game.

Elland Road difference for you?

It’s amazing when you walk out through the tunnel, looking at everybody waving their scarves. Must be intimidating for the opposition.

Wigan useful

No easy games in this league. We’ve shown that. QPR, for example. Nobody expected that. That game and that game only.

Belief you can beat anyone?

Yes, but that comes from everything since pre-season. Games are easier than training sometimes.

Bielsa talking about promotion?

Everyone the same, focusing on next game. Our dream, but nothing changes when it comes to our focus. Ups and downs this season, but nothing changes.

What did you learn from the stands?

More about the whole team. Wouldn’t like to play against us. Ball goes out and we put it straight back in. In the past, we are fouled and we take time, not here, it’s relentless.

When you’re playing you’re in the zone. When you watch it, you see it happen.

Expectation in calmness - how to keep emotions balanced?

Characters in the building. Team chemistry. Nobody gets carried away or too depressed.

We are thriving off the buzz. That’s why we play football. Don’t work all week to throw it away on a Saturday.

Different element when playing relegation scrappers?

Games important for everyone. Promotion, play-offs, survival. Last season we weren’t playing for anything and everyone lost interest around the city. When you walk down the road someone wants to stop and tell you how amazing it is.

Nice to be stopped?

Yes, because normally you’re in the bubble and don’t know how everyone is feeling about it really.

Golden boot race?

I might not play if the team keeps winning! No comp with Pablo.

Developed since you arrived?

Would like to say I’m a better player.

Bielsa’s been massive. He’s brought everything new this season. Everyday something different.

Atmosphere with promotion?

What dreams are made of. Walking my dogs and getting stopped. Vibes from people. Something special.

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

Pontus up after MB today:-

Can missing out on the top two be motivation?

Pontus says you can choose to be sad, but they would have taken play-offs at the start of the season.

‘Don’t feel sad that you lost, use it as motivation.’

Players here have told him Wembley is an amazing way to go up.

On the spat between the clubs

Says they’ve had two excellent games.

‘Everything outside that has no meaning. They hate us and we hate them.’

On Bielsa's instruction that the ball won't be put out if someone is down

Says BIelsa understood his point of view after the Villa game.

‘When I play football you can’t talk to me. I make the right or wrong decision.’

Says he’s pleased the decision is now taken out of his hands.

On Villa

Says the first thing he did after Klich’s goal was talk to the Villa bench.

He said he couldn’t let them score. ‘I just can’t!’ But he soon calmed down.

On his injury

Says he is sore and has had a bad foot for a couple of games, but won’t miss out.

‘I’ll play in a wheelchair if you want!’

On promotion

Says it has felt like this is the year. Will be guilty if Leeds don’t go up.

‘We just have to do it’.

On the two wins over Derby

Won’t take them into account too much. Expecting two good football games.

Says Derby will play the same formation, but maybe change some details to prepare more than they did before.

If Leeds do the same again, it should be enough.

How is the mood? Calm? Frenzy?

As it gets closer, he feels it in the stomach. He didn’t train today, but hears it was a good session.

Performances against Derby

The best games we have played have been against the best teams in the league, he says.

Says hate is not the right word to describe their relationship with the Derby players. Says that as a football fan.

Are Leeds underdogs?

‘Underdogs? I can’t see how you view us as underdogs. Not in our words..’

That was accompanied with a cracking stare at the journalist who asked it.

On what promotion would mean to the fans

‘Everyone wold be legends. Especially Marcelo, he’s a god to the fans.’

Meanwhile, Gjanni Alioski is pressing his face on the door window, doing his best to put Pontus off, before he pokes his head in the back of the room. ‘One more question!’, he says. Good to see him in good spirits...

That's all from Pontus

That’s all from Pontus. And Gjanni.

[SCOTTISH LEEDS]

Liam Cooper speaking to the press after MB today:-

Half-time - but what's the mood like? How do you approach it?

They go to win the game and that will be the mentality.

Says they will attack as normal and the best team will go through.

Agree that Derby are better now than August

Agrees. Saturday’s game was a lot closer. Have a lot of players who can hurt you and Leeds nullified them.

Says Leeds defended well and deserved the win. Putting that behind them now.

Pleased given injuries?

Speaks volumes of the young lads and the manager’s belief. Came in from day one and stood up. They get it. Marcelo demands a lot and are a great asset.

On Shackleton

Amazing young man Down to earth, works hard. Deserves it. Different class on Saturday.

Atmosphere?

It’s electric. Thinks it will be the best of the season. Fans are always there and they will feed off it,

On Berardi's performance

No surprise at all. Heart on sleeve. Like everyone he works so hard. Become second nature. Pleasure to play with, as is Pontus. Good partnership with both.

On Bamford

Says Bamford has trained very hard, harder than usual. Has confidence that he will score, even when he misses chances.

Hard not to have one eye on Wembley?

More the fans and the media that are doing this. Says it’s down to him to bear away from that. Reiterates they will go to win the game.

Doesn’t over-accept the fact they have one over Derby.

One foot in, plenty of football to be played.

What's it like to captain Leeds at a time like this

Will answer that question in a few weeks.

On the penalty incident

Fair play to the ref for doing that. Good on them.

Is it your role in the dressing before the match to rally the troops?

Different players in the squad. Pablo’s football does the talking. But you don’t need geeing up for this sort of game.

On his own form

Delighted, but credits the staff. They know every system every team will play.

Which captains did you admire over the years?

Coming here, The Chief was brilliant. So many big names here through the years.

On leading by example

Says he is all or nothing in everything he does, tries to lead by example.

Says he didn’t watch the Premier League yesterday, City deserve it though.

Had a little taste of the Prem with Hull, says they all dream of playing there here.

If they don’t do it, it won’t be through lack of trying.

‘Let’s give it a really good go’.

On leading by example

Says he is all or nothing in everything he does, tries to lead by example.

Says he didn’t watch the Premier League yesterday, City deserve it though.

Had a little taste of the Prem with Hull, says they all dream of playing there here.

If they don’t do it, it won’t be through lack of trying.

‘Let’s give it a really good go’.