Leeds United are brimming with confidence as they have gone past two playoff favourites in their first two games of the season. The fans are oozing with optimism at the moment, and they have every right to do so as more than the result, the football they have played in the last two games has indeed won them over. Not that they needed any winning over as when Marcelo Bielsa was appointed at the club, most of the fans welcomed the shrewd and brave move by Andrea Radrizzani.
‘El Loco’ as Bielsa is often called translates to crazy, and it is undoubtedly crazy that a side who have won their last away game eight months ago have gone past Derby County at Pride Park with a thumping 4-1 win. Frank Lampard admitted that his team was outplayed in all the departments. With just one new signing starting in the two games, Bielsa has turned the tide around with his philosophy alone.
However, things will not run as smooth as it is going right now. One cannot expect them to go past opponents by 3-4 goal margin every time they play, and there will come a time when the opposition will find out a way to cope up with the Whites pressing and movement up the pitch. Bielsa is also known to start off well, but as the season progresses, we have seen his sides lose steam. Marseille is an example which one can cite from recent times as in the 2014-15 campaign, they had won 8 of their starting 10 games. However, they ended up finishing 4th. Though if one would ask a Leeds fan, they will take a playoff spot at this point.
Bielsa is known for his intense training regime. In just a few months, we have heard stories of players sleeping around the training ground as they practise from 9 am to 7 pm. Let us also not forget the ‘picking up litter story for three hours’ incident to make the players realise the hardship a fan goes through to pay for a game. All this will catch up, and with games coming thick and fast in the Championship, it will be tough to sustain this rhythm for a further 44 games. So there are still improvements which Bielsa could look to implement, and we look at three things which the Argentine tactician should do to keep automatic qualifications hopes alive.
Making More Signings and Adding Depth To The Squad
The Whites have had an unfruitful transfer window and there are many areas where they lack depth. One major injury to a key player might derail their season. The time has already gone to make permanent signings, but they can still make few loan acquisitions by the end of 31st August. They will have to improve in the January transfer window as well as the current ‘high intensity’ style of football will take a lot out of the players by the time we are half way through the campaign. Keeping the players injury free would be a big challenge for the Whites.
Being Flexible In His Approach
When the results haven’t gone precisely his way in the past, we have often seen him sticking to his philosophy for too long. His stints at Marseille, Lazio and Lille, were underwhelming and because of that, he was nicknamed as a mad scientist as there were occasions when he would find success, but he wasn’t able to sustain it for an extended period of times due to being too rigid in his approach.
Keeping Good Relationship With Players And Board
There have been occasions when he has lost the dressing room and has openly criticised the club for not getting ‘his’ signings which haven’t gone down well with the previous club owners. He needs to make sure that everything is transparent and harmonious between everyone involved in the club.
All in all, we are hopeful that Bielsa’s class in a league like the Championship would shine through.
My prediction: Leeds United to finish in the first 2 places attaining direct promotion to the Premier League.
