Diego Llorente has admitted in an interview with Marca that he’s been left blown away by Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta brought the former Real Sociedad powerhouse to Elland Road in a £18 million deal last summer [The Athletic].
Coming from Spain, Llorente had heard good things about the ex-Athletic Bilbao coach, but the 27-year-old has conceded that despite hearing glowing reports, Bielsa – nicknamed El Loco – is more impressive than he was told.
He told Marca: “I had some references to him, but everything they can tell you falls short. He is a very meticulous coach, very rigorous and very passionate in everything he does.
“At the level of expressing his passion and his style of play, I have not had a coach who has done it so well or so frankly. I know he is a coach who will improve me and I try to learn the most on and off the field.”
Indeed, the Argentine absolutely has proven himself a revelation – not only at Leeds, but English football in general.
Earlier this month, Bielsa’s side won 2-1 away to Premier League champions-elect Manchester City, despite playing half the game with 10 men.
Leeds, under the 65-year-old, have a way of defying logic and doing it in such an entertaining way that it makes it impossible for a neutral fan not to respect the veteran coach and his players.
Next up for the West Yorkshire club is a visit of Manchester United this afternoon.
And the fact that the Red Devils aren’t huge favourites against a newly-promoted club pretty much says it all.
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