Slaven Bilic has defended Marcelo Bielsa’s time at Leeds United and pointed out that Liverpool needed the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to win the Premier League.
The former Croatia international was making reference to Leeds losing the spine of their team this season and that being a big factor in Bielsa struggling, as he told Premier League Productions (05/03/22 at 8:45 pm).
Liam Cooper, Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips have been absent for large periods of this season, especially their star striker who has only made one appearance since September.
Last season, Liverpool lost a number of their centre-backs, including van Dijk and then proceeded to lose six home games on the bounce.
For Bielsa, there was a lot of talk about him having to change his methods because it just wasn’t working for Leeds, but Bilic passionately made it clear that there were bigger factors behind the club’s struggles.
“It’s not a good situation for them,” said Bilic. “They lost a manager. I always defend the manager, especially people like Bielsa.
“He’s very passionate. I believe in my plans, but the way he believes in his plans are unbelievable. He’s not a young guy, but he based his whole career on that pressing game. All that man-marking system.
“It was working last season. It’s not about his plan. For me, his biggest mistake, if it was his mistake, it was not to buy a few more alternatives. For Bamford and for Cooper.
“People are forgetting that he lost Bamford, Phillips and he lost Cooper. It’s the spine of your team. Can you imagine Liverpool? They needed Alisson and Van Dijk to win the Champions League and the Premier League.
“Despite spending and having Mane and Salah, this one and that one. Leeds lost that spine. They also lost that momentum of that first season.”
Some did point out that Leeds should have remained patient with Bielsa and waited until his injured stars returned.
Bamford returned to the bench during the 1-0 defeat at Leicester City and Phillips also seems to be edging closer.
Either way, it’s now up to Jesse Marsch to guide the club to safety because dropping down to England’s second-tier will prove to be problematic for the club.
Leeds spent nearly two decades in England’s top-flight before Bielsa guided them back and fans will fear the worst if they go back down again.
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