The build-up to Friday night’s 2-0 home win over Derby was dominated by claims from the Rams that a man was caught outside their training ground on Thursday.
On Saturday morning, Leeds issued a statement, which read: “Following comments made by Marcelo Bielsa yesterday the club will look to work with our head coach and his staff to remind them of the integrity and honesty which are the foundations that Leeds United is built on.
The Football Association is investigating, but, following Friday night’s win, which saw his side move five points clear at the top of the table, Bielsa refused to rule out continuing to employ the same ‘spy’ tactics.
“I’m not trying to justify anything,” he said. “I’ve just explained why I feel I’m not a person who cheats and why I accept any reaction this behaviour creates.
“Things are as English football says. I have to respect the habits and traditions of this country.
“I would accept any sanction the club takes against me and any sanction the federation takes against me, and also the judgement of Derby County.
“This episode affects me. Of course the win is important. The only thing I’m going to apologise for is to have contaminated a football game with this subject.
“If I was a child, I would say I won’t do it again, but I wouldn’t feel right responding like this and would lose credibility.
“It’s not for me to say what happens,” the former Chelsea and England midfielder said. “I believe there’s not an absolute clear-cut rule about it.
“But we can’t open the door to this thing happening every week. What kind of farce would that be? Everyone sending undercover people, drones etc into training. It would be farcical.
“Cheating is a big word,” he added. “If you talk about details and gaining advantages, great and good managers do that.
“But this one is over the line. It’s not just a toe over the line, it’s a hop, skip and a jump over the line.