Craig Bellamy admits Leeds’ Bielsa deal shocked him, credits Radrizzani, urges signings

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Leeds United are riding high under Marcelo Bielsa so far this season.

Pundit Craig Bellamy has told Sky Sports’ The Debate that he thinks Leeds United will need ‘one or two’ signings in January to cope with Marcelo Bielsa’s style of play.

When Leeds sacked Paul Heckingbottom and appointed ‘El Loco’ Bielsa, many thought it would go one of two ways; legendary coach Bielsa would finally guide Leeds back to the Premier League, or one of football’s most curious figures would bring more chaos to Elland Road.

So far, it’s clearly the former. Bielsa has yet to taste defeat in the Championship this season, and has his Leeds side sitting top of the table with five wins and three draws in eight games.

The style of play pushed by Bielsa has rarely been seen in the Championship, and he is earning plaudits from all over the country and all over the world for how his first few months at Leeds are going.

The challenge for Bielsa will to keep this up over the course of a long, gruelling Championship season, but it’s fair for Leeds fans to be dreaming of finally returning to the Premier League with the Argentinian at the helm.

Now, pundit Craig Bellamy has told Sky Sports’ The Debate that he has been very impressed with Leeds this season, suggesting that they need to be back in the Premier League, and landing Bielsa left him shocked as he is the ‘holy grail’ of coaching.

Bellamy added that he thinks Leeds will need one or two players in January to cope with the physical demands of Bielsa’s pressing style, but praised owner Andrea Radrizzani for landing Bielsa, and the Leeds fans for backing him instantly.

“Very impressed, from day one when they beat Stoke as well,” said Bellamy. “Look, Leeds are a big club. Leeds need to be in the Premier League, it’s such a big club, with their tradition and what they’ve had. In the summer when they went and got Bielsa, I was shocked, because Bielsa is the holy grail, Bielsa is what we believe coaching is.”

“The players will go hard, because he demands that with the way he presses and the energy he needs. I believe in January he’s going need one or two more players then, because these players will be burnt out, they won’t be used to that intensity. But credit to Leeds, credit to the owner, brilliant for them to go and get Bielsa and I think the fans are clever as well – they got behind Bielsa, they were excited when he signed, now they’ve got a manager and a team they deserve, and he will hopefully get them up,” he added.