Leeds fans have taken to Twitter to react after Marcelo Bielsa commented on Paul Heckingbottom’s work at Elland Road.
Speaking ahead of the meeting with Sheffield United on Saturday, the Argentine said: “I’ve only heard praise about the time he was here. What I value is that a great portion of the players who are the base of the team were here when he was around.”
Bielsa is just too humble.
Heckingbottom lost his first game in charge of Leeds – coincidentally against the Blades – and lasted just four months in Yorkshire.
The 43-year-old didn’t even get the chance to oversee a transfer window, which somewhat makes Bielsa’s point about having the same players redundant.
Also – as some fans below allude to – it’s almost a backhanded compliment from the ex-Marseille boss.
Bielsa is basically saying that he managed to get a bunch of players promoted, who Heckingbottom couldn’t find much success with himself.
Knowing Bielsa, however, he was surely being genuine and modest, as he always tends to be.
After his spell at Leeds, Heckingbottom didn’t even last a year at his next job with Hibernian.
It’s a shame to see him bounce from place to place. Hopefully, he can impress with Sheffield United, and perhaps nudge his way into contention to replace Chris Wilder on a full-time basis.
Either way, going from Heckingbottom to Bielsa is a good an upgrade as there is.
Let’s see how the Leeds fans reacted to Bielsa’s comments…
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