Angus Kinnear comments on Bielsa’s demands before taking Leeds United job

Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United landed a major coup with Marcelo Bielsa this summer.

Leeds United managing director Angus Kinnear has told France Football that manager Marcelo Bielsa wanted ‘a lot of changes’ at Elland Road before taking the job, but they weren’t too excessive.

The Whites have gone through major changes in 2018, as Thomas Christiansen was sacked in February and replaced by Paul Heckingbottom, who lasted just a matter of months in the job.

Heckingbottom was sacked over the summer, with Leeds chasing a big-name appointment to replace him – and they got one they could barely have dreamt of.

Leeds managed to bring in Bielsa as their new manager, landing the Argentinian legend signing a two-year contract to manage the club.

‘El Loco’ has been a coaching czar over the years, inspiring the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino, whilst he has also enjoyed recent success with Athletic Bilbao and Marseille.

So far, Bielsa has Leeds on course for a promotion push, as he has lost just one league game, and has Leeds sitting two points off top spot in the Championship table.

Bielsa has been earning plaudits from left, right and centre this season, and many believe that he can be the man to finally take Leeds back to the top flight.

Now, Leeds managing director Kinnear has told France Football that he thinks the gamble of taking the Leeds job is what galvanises Bielsa, adding that he asked for ‘a lot of changes’ in the way everybody works at Elland Road, but nothing excessive – so Leeds accepted his demands and landed him, with Kinnear feeling his mere presence at Elland Road gives Leeds a real change to grow and progress.

“This gamble galvanises Marcelo,” said Bielsa. “To achieve this, he asked for a lot of changes in the way we work, but nothing excessive. He pulls everyone behind him. His presence is an opportunity to grow,” he added.