Marcelo Bielsa says he wants Leeds to learn from Sheffield United's attacking style

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa wants to learn from Chris Wilder’s attacking system, amid his fears English football has become too defensive.

Bielsa’s team have scored seven and conceded seven in their first two Premier League matches of the season and this weekend face Sheffield United, whose overlapping centre-backs made them one of the most exciting teams last season.

It will be the first top-flight Yorkshire derby in 19 years, although Bielsa and Wilder met two seasons ago in the Championship.

“I remember that he had clear concepts and his players were able to carry them out,” said Bielsa. “The way he manages to set up his team awakens a lot of interest in me to learn from him.

“It is a team with a particular style of play which is ingrained and well-oiled. The players clearly feel comfortable in the system that has been imposed.”

Leeds almost threw away a 4-1 lead against Fulham last week and Bielsa vowed to continue attacking after his team hung on for victory. He says winning is now more important than style, which is dangerous for English football.

“Football is going towards a way that fans are not going to like,” he added. “In the world as a whole, waiting for an opponent is more accepted when you are winning. It is a process happening for a while that the victory is more important than how we obtain it.

“I am of the humble opinion that the English game is at a crossroads, whether we accept winning without caring how we win, or to go for it. I always had the idea the English public prefer their teams to go for but I don't see this as clearly as I used to.

“In the rest of the leagues the fans put the result before the actual performance. I feel in the English game there is still a dispute between the two.”

Wilder has Ethan Ampadu, on loan from Chelsea, pushing for a starting place as John Egan is suspended. But he will not alter his team’s attacking despite two defeats in their opening matches of the season.

“We haven’t changed our philosophy and Leeds haven’t and won’t,” Wilder said. “It’s a challenge, this is a test of our players, individuals, coaches of when things are not going as well as you want them to.”