Marcelo Bielsa admits his Leeds United players will be losing confidence in him after a fourth straight defeat in which they were booed for the first time at Elland Road.

There are now serious doubts about the Argentine’s immediate future at the club with American Jesse Marsch the frontrunner to replace him should a change be made.

Leeds have conceded 20 times in their last five matches and have taken just one point from 18 to leave them in grave danger of relegation.

And, following their 4-0 defeat by Spurs, Bielsa said: ‘Of course this situation is serious. No team with such a run of defeats maintains the confidence with what they are doing or the confidence in the coach.

‘What am I trying to say to you? If I evaluate the effort they are giving, I feel totally backed by what the team is trying to do because they are giving their all.

‘But clearly, I cannot ignore those who give their effort and get nothing in return. So yes, they start to doubt what they are doing. We need to impose what we are attempting and we are not doing it. The results continue to show that the team is not stable.’

He added: ‘Obviously it is not just this game, it’s a succession of results. I don’t see it that way (blame the players). I propose the style of play they take forward and, at the moment, it’s very difficult for us to impose our way of playing.

‘When a style of play is effective, that means the coach interpreted things well. When the opposite happens, I have to admit what I am proposing is not working.

‘When a process doesn’t give the expected results, it’s natural the one taking it forwards starts to lose confidence.

‘It’s a consequence that is expected – when it’s not as effective as it used to be it becomes more difficult. The positive things are contagious, but also the negative ones.

‘When it goes well there’s a lot more confidence and desire to do it, and when it goes less well, then it is harder.’

Of the goals conceded – a league high of 60 – Bielsa said: ‘The amount of goals we have conceded has a decisive influence on how we have done. No team can think of progressing if you have a defensive weakness that is so manifested like ours.

‘I insist the way we try is not a problem, just the way we have defended.’

Meanwhile, Spurs boss Antonio Conte declared himself happy with the response of his players just three days after he questioned his own future at the club following defeat by Burnley.

‘I am a coach that, for me, it isn’t enough to play the game and to enjoy football,’ he said. ‘At the same time I want to create something competitive and to fight to win – I want this.

‘My demands are very high because when you want to compete and win your demands have to be that way.

‘Sometimes I use soft words, sometimes I use strong ones, but with only one target – to improve many aspects and I think every day these players show me great commitment.

‘They know that is not enough, we have to improve in many ways and today I have seen great desire in every zone. This has to be a starting point for us and not just an episode. I asked for a big answer and they gave it to me.’