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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith reveals what he said to Marcelo Bielsa amid Leeds chaos
DEAN SMITH has opened up on the chat with Marcelo Bielsa which saw Aston Villa walk in a goal against Leeds.
Aston Villa: Dean Smith reacts to Leeds brawl
The visitors were left furious when Mateusz Klich gave Leeds the lead in controversial fashion.
Jonathan Kodjia went down injured but the home players carried on playing.
Anwar El Ghazi was sent off amid a melee meaning he could miss the play-off semi-finals.
Aston Villa boss Dean Smith has revealed how he convinced Marcelo Bielsa to let them equalise.
“The referee has missed a foul on Jonathan Kodija in the centre circle,” he told Sky Sports.
“What happens then, Tyler Roberts should put the ball out, he doesn’t. We’ve just done it for their lad.
“They shouldn’t have done that, it’s wrong but every credit for Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United for putting that right.
“I asked him and he said ‘I agree yes [they should let them score].’
“I asked him and he said ‘I agree yes [they should let them score].’
“Because he was apologising and I said ‘we’ll I think you should let us walk a goal in then’ and he said ‘okay’.
“Fair play to them.”
The draw confirmed Sheffield United have been promoted to the Premier League and now Leeds have to pick themselves back up for the play-offs.
Bielsa showed his class after the game by explaining he had to do what was right in the spirit of the game.
“English football is known for sportsmanship,” he told Sky Sports through a translator.
“I don’t have to comment on this kind of thing, it’s common.”
Leeds and Aston Villa could potentially meet in the play-off final at Wembley.