Leeds United’s last Elland Road goal against Aston Villa was a hugely controversial moment, as the two sides prepare to meet in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke knows that he needs to find a much-improved performance from his Leeds side when they welcome Aston Villa to Elland Road.
Leeds do not have a strong track record against Villa, having last won a Premier League game against them in the 2002/03 season.
Having failed to score in the last three home games against Villa, Leeds’ last goal against this weekend’s opponents is one of the most controversial goals in the history of the club.
Marcelo Bielsa was in charge on that day, as the Leeds boss shocked the world in an ill-tempered and dramatic Championship clash.
Daniel Farke and Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds numbers: Daniel Farke
Games – 116
Wins – 64
Draws – 28
Losses – 24
Win Rate – 55.17%
Marcelo Bielsa
Games – 170
Wins – 81
Draws – 30
Lost – 59
Win Rate – 47.65% Marcelo Bielsa allowed a controversial Aston Villa goal vs Leeds United
When Leeds United met Aston Villa at Elland Road in 2019, few could have predicted the dramatic afternoon that would unfold.
Leeds needed a win to keep their very slender chances of automatic promotion alive, having looked destined to return to the top flight for much of the season.
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After a tense first half, the game suddenly burst into life in the 72nd minute in the most controversial way possible. A goal kick from Kiko Casilla was nodded back into the Leeds half, leading to Liam Cooper contesting the ball with Jonathan Kodija, leaving the Villa man on the ground.
Having previously put the ball out for a Leeds injury, the Villa players paused, expecting Leeds to do the same. However, Leeds played on, as Tyler Roberts played the ball to Mateusz Klich on the left flank, who did not hesitate in firing the ball into the bottom corner.
The goal prompted a furious reaction from the Villa players and bench, with Anwar El Ghazi receiving a controversial red card for an elbow on Patrick Bamford, and several flashpoints across the pitch.
After several minutes of flare-ups and debates, an angry Bielsa eventually gestured to his players, appearing to bark, “Give them the goal,” before every Leeds player, aside from Pontus Jansson, stepped aside as Villa were allowed to equalise.
Although the incident did not prove decisive in Leeds’ final league position, with the Whites missing out on the playoff places, it proved to be a defining moment in Bielsa’s reign, as he cemented his reputation as one of football’s great enigmas at Elland Road.
Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty ImagesMarcelo Bielsa and Leeds United rewarded with FIFA Fair Play Award
Speaking via RTE after the game, Bielsa was typically understated in his response to the controversial incident.
Explaining why he had allowed Villa to score, Bielsa said: “What happened happened and we behaved as we behaved. That’s all I can say about something which is very clear.”
He added: “What happened happened, and we reacted the way we reacted. You make a difference between fair play and the circumstances of the game, but for me, it’s the same. English football is known around the world for its noble features of how we play.”
Bielsa was ultimately recognised for his act of sportsmanship, as the Argentinian and Leeds received a FIFA Fair Play Award for allowing Villa to score.
This was a fitting tribute to the Leeds head coach and his team, and the perfect full stop to an incident that took the entire footballing world by surprise.