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Bielsa-ball’s Premier
League bow
I
t is hard to think of a more
eagerly anticipated promotion
to the Premier League than
Leeds United’s.
Their long journey back to the top
flight has been well documented, and
their return was always bound to attract
significant spotlight. What might not
have been expected, however, was
that that spotlight would be focused
so closely on one man – manager,
Marcelo Bielsa.
The former Newell’s Old Boys boss
is Leeds’15th manager since their
relegation from the Premier League in- He has the best win rate in the
club’s history; better even than the great
Don Revie, although whether he can
maintain that record in the top flight
remains to be seen.
There is a contradiction to Bielsa’s
arrival in the Premier League: he
is simultaneously one of the most
respected and influential coaches in
world football, while also something of
an unknown force in the English game.
Before arriving at Elland Road, he was
last seen on English soil when his
Athletic Bilbao side tore Manchester
United apart on the way to the 2012
Europa League final, yet he didn’t cross
the radar of some pundits until his
infamous “spy-gate” run-in with Frank
Lampard and Derby County in 2018-19.
Nobody really knows what to expect
from Bielsa and Leeds. His last top-flight
experience was in France, where he was
sacked by Lille in 2017. But if Leeds fall
short, it will be not for a lack of effort
from their manager.
While top-flight managers often speak
of the need to find time to get away from
the game, this is an alien concept to the
former Argentina boss. Bielsa consumes
an extraordinary amount of football in
his pursuit of every scrap of detail about
his opponents. According toThe Athletic,
when Leeds faced Forest Green Rovers
in his first preseason game, he requested
footage of the League Two side’s
previous three games – all friendliesagainst local non-league sides.
He completes a forensic analysis
of all his opponents to uncover any
weaknesses, yet combines this with
a commitment to his own style of
play, built on relentless pressing and
overwhelming movement off the ball.
He insists that his players have the
physical fitness to maintain maximum
intensity and the tactical understanding
to implement his plans.
With such demands upon his teams,
fatigue has often been cited as a factor
in his failings, and so it was for Leeds
in his first year in Yorkshire. Top of the
table on New Year’s Day, they only won
half of their remaining games before
suffering a meltdown against Derby in
the play-offs. Cracks appeared in the
middle of last season too, but a long
mid-season break was certainly to their
advantage – when the league resumed
they won seven out of nine.Progressing to a league with fewer
matches will be a welcome change
for the Leeds players, and it is likely
to be the same group that Bielsa has
worked with for the last two years.
It has far proven extremely difficult
to integrate new players into his style,
which is why he is keen to make
only a couple of additions.
Whether or not they have the quality
to handle the step-up, there will be no
shortage of entertainment at Elland
Road. Several of Leeds’ fixtures are
positively mouth-watering, with some
fascinating rivalries to renew.
Their clashes with Yorkshire rivals
Sheffield United in 2018-19, who pipped
them to promotion, were thrilling affairs,
while their last meeting with Aston Villa
was mired in drama. Leeds allowed Villa
to score following a controversial goal,
though that was nothing compared to
the spat with Lampard. His presence on
the Chelsea bench will add to what is
already a significant rivalry, though not
as great as the one with Manchester
United, who remain Leeds’ most hated
opponents. It will be fascinating to see
how Bielsa measures up against the
likes ofJurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola,
andJose Mourinho, while he has already
faced Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in last
season’s FA Cup.
The spotlight then will remain on
the man from Rosario. His first tilt at
England’s top flight is not to be missed.
Jamie EvansBielsa is simultaneously one of
the most respected and influential
coaches in world football, while also
something of an unknown force
in the English gameChampions...
Leeds sealed the
Championship title
back inJulyBielsa...Leeds’
manager will be
the focus of much of
the club’s coverage
this season