There is no doubt that Marcelo Bielsa has been able to transform Leeds United in a short span with a minimal number of signings. ‘El Loco’ as he is often called took the gamble to come to the English second division even though he has experience of managing national teams like Argentina and Chile. Latest reports suggest that the Mexican national team wanted Bielsa in the summer after the World Cup. However, the Argentine manager was keen on staying and working with the Whites.
It’s not only about the results, but the brand of football which the Whites are playing that has brought such level of optimism around the club. One doesn’t usually see teams building from the back and playing with such high-intensity with or without the ball. The forwards are always on the move and most of the players are fluid and flexible in their approach. Hull City manager Nigel Adkins gave a big testament on how Bielsa has managed to change the Whites. He had said,”Leeds are one of the best sides I’ve seen in the Championship for a very long time. We’re not on a level playing field with them, and they’ll take some sides to the cleaners.”
United would be glad that Bielsa gave Mexico a snub to come to Elland Road as this is this is one of the most positive times at the club in a long time. Injuries and some draws have halted their run of late, but the player and fans should be feeling confident of beating anyone on their day.
The most influential work of the manager has been on how he has managed to transform certain players. The likes of Mateusz Klich, Kemar Roofe, Ezgjan Alioski, Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips have benefitted the most as everyone are seeing their true potential now. Not many of the Whites faithful would have thought that their own squad had so much talent.
There were often calls of a complete overhaul of the team when Bielsa came in as a manager but with just a few signings, Bielsa has managed to change the tide, and the Whites are now one of the favourites for the automatic promotion spot. In fact of all the six signings (including loan deals), only Barry Douglas is getting into the first eleven regularly.
The legend of Bielsa was heightened further when he asked the players to pick up litter for the hours which an average supporter has to work to pay for the tickets. The work ethic, the attitude of the players, have all changed under Bielsa.
The club faithful should be glad that Bielsa took up this tougher project in the English Championship. He decided to come to a place where he can’t even properly communicate, and hopefully, he would be the one to take United back to English top flight after more than a decade of troubles in the English lower division.
