Crystal Palace clash may trigger Marcelo Bielsa and Pablo Hernandez nightmares for Leeds United fans | OneFootball

Leeds United face Crystal Palace on Saturday for the first time since April 2023’s Elland Road capitulation, and memories of Marcelo Bielsa and Pablo Hernandez may resurface.

Back in 2020/21 at Selhurst Park, VAR ruled Patrick Bamford offside when he thought he had equalised, and Leeds lost 4-1. Bielsa left Hernandez out of the squad and promoted Jack Jenkins to the bench. According to Leeds Live, he later said Jamie Shackleton had taken a training knock, confirmed Hernandez was fit but omitted, and that he picked the 18 he felt suited the game.

That season was the peak of Bielsa’s reign, yet the Palace defeat felt like the beginning of the end for his playmaker. Hernandez had shown frustration after being substituted in the Leicester loss days earlier, and some fans even hoped an injury explained his absence.

No one did more to win promotion than Hernandez, who remained the talisman under Bielsa, with nine goals and nine assists, and an unforgettable winner at Swansea.

He returned to the match day squad just over a month later, but his role faded. He made one more league start, on the final day, after it had already been announced that he and Gaetano Berardi would leave. A 3-1 farewell against West Brom brought a hug with Bielsa and a rousing ovation, even if it was no fitting swan song.

The following season, Raphinha’s stoppage-time penalty, awarded after a VAR review penalised Marc Guehi for handball, delivered priceless three points against Palace.

Source: Leedsunited.news