Why Marcelo Bielsa won't budge from Leeds United's attacking principles despite Derby County cushion

Leeds United’s head coach has a goal to defend but 1-0 up might as well be 3-0 down for all the difference it will make to his attitude.

Stick or twist at the midway point of a delicately-balanced play-off semi-final?

“The difference is only one goal and the idea is to increase this difference,” Bielsa said.

He programmed himself to think like that from his earliest days as a coach and the monumental weight of the prize he is in for at Elland Road is not about to make him hedge his bets. Attack at will is Bielsa’s viewpoint, drip-fed to his players throughout the season.

“If we go into this thinking we've got to protect a lead we'll be our own worst enemy,” said his captain, Liam Cooper.

Leeds could be forgiven for doing so, in the face of so much history and so many years trapped in the four walls of the Championship.

They are two games from the Premier League - “a long path to our goal,” Bielsa insisted - and a goalless draw would do, enough to finish off Derby after a 1-0 win in the first leg at Pride Park on Saturday.

Tomorrow is the last chance for Frank Lampard to knock Leeds out of their stride by thinking again and revising his strategy. Derby’s boss can rest assured that Bielsa will not change his.

It might be that Bielsa understands Leeds properly and appreciates the fact that a packed, expectant crowd at Elland Road would not cope well with the sight of his team digging in and clinging on but the 63-year-old has been on the front foot since Newell’s Old Boys let him loose in management 30 years ago.

That was how his ‘El Loco’ nickname developed: always on the ball, always attacking and always willing to take risks in any circumstances.