Marcelo Bielsa says Leeds are stuck in a 'negative cycle' after seeing their early-season form fall away.
The Championship winners have lost four from six in the Premier League and have taken just two points from a possible 15 at Elland Road, where they face Newcastle on Wednesday.
After winning plaudits for the positive manner in which they approached their return to the top-flight, Bielsa was forced to field questions about the threat of relegation on Monday.
And the Argentine said: 'The reality that we're going through at this moment, to have only picked up four points from the last 18, is a negative cycle that of course generates consequences.