---
title: "Leeds United: Fans question Marcelo Bielsa’s call to bench Helder Costa vs Barnsley"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-fans-question-marcelo-bielsas-call-to-bench-helder-costa-vs-barnsley/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Kyle Archer"
section: "Twitter Talk"
published: "2019-09-15T19:50:17Z"
modified: "2019-09-15T19:50:17Z"
---

# Leeds United: Fans question Marcelo Bielsa’s call to bench Helder Costa vs Barnsley

**Many Leeds United supporters were left questioning Marcelo Bielsa’s call to name Helder Costa on the bench against Barnsley, as the two Yorkshire outfits met in the Championship on Sunday.**

Leeds went into the encounter at Oakwell vying for a spot at the top of the Championship table after Swansea City failed to take a point at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, when Alfa Semedo struck the back of the net in the 85th minute to win the game for the visitors.

Marcelo Bielsa looked to do so without Costa at first, however, with the one-time Portugal international named on the bench for his seventh successive league game ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/118127/MatchStatistics/H%C3%A9lder-Costa)), before being introduced to proceedings at half-time.

Leeds were level with Barnsley at the break despite enjoying almost twice as much possession as the Tykes, with which the Whites fashioned one fewer effort on goal and only registered two shots on target, per [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1381438/Live/England-Championship-2019-2020-Barnsley-Leeds) data.

United maintained their dominance in the latter 45, too, as Bielsa’s side laid claim to an even greater share of possession, attempted 16 shots on goal to Barnsley’s 11, and found the back of Bradley Collins’ net twice through late strikes by Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah and a penalty converted by Mateusz Klich.

Costa’s introduction in place of Jack Harrison at half-time failed to affect proceedings a great deal, though, as the Portuguese winger attempted the same number of shots as the Englishman on loan from Manchester City and attempted fewer key passes, although he did enjoy better success when it came to dribbles.

Harrison’s struggles will only help to feed the supporters calling for Bielsa to bench the 22-year-old, as many voiced their hope in seeing Costa named in the starting line-up and not the Manchester United product when Leeds announced the team to face Barnsley on [Twitter.](https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1173182168132136960)

Here are a few of the messages shared by Leeds fans longing to see Costa start a Championship game for their side…

> Should’ve put hernandez in middle and costa on wing
>
> — Reggie (@TheOnlyPlace4Us) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/TheOnlyPlace4Us/status/1173186470888267776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Costaaaaaaaa pleaseeeee
>
> — Jude McMichan (@McmichanJude) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/McmichanJude/status/1173182512320909315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Good team but how does Costa not start..?
>
> — Chris O (@chrisolf) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/chrisolf/status/1173182437268107265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> How and why isn’t Costa starting
>
> — Byron Littlefair ⚽️ (@bazzmanthegreat) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/bazzmanthegreat/status/1173182699936374789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Costa still on the bench ? Why?
>
> — Jack Lufc Anderson (@LufcAnderson) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/LufcAnderson/status/1173182281659367431?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> I love Shackleton but why not move Pablo central and start Costa
>
> — Dan Paton (@DanPaton5) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/DanPaton5/status/1173182388081496065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> We want costa
>
> — Thomas Kilvingon (@TomKilvington) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/TomKilvington/status/1173182294770798592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> COSTA???!!!???
>
> — Luke (@LukeFazz24\_) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/LukeFazz24_/status/1173182365671350272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Funny. Start Costa.
>
> — Billy Kneeshaw (@billy\_kneeshaw) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/billy_kneeshaw/status/1173182301204824065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Best supplier of the ball is on the bench again.
>
> — Zak Pullen (@zak\_pullen) [September 15, 2019](https://twitter.com/zak_pullen/status/1173185996504084480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)