Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are top of the Championship and the good times are returning to Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa has certainly justified the hype.
Leeds United captured the imagination when they hired one of the most influential tacticians of the 21st century over the summer; Bielsa arriving at Elland Road amid eye-catching endorsements from the likes of Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone.
The former Athletic Bilbao and Marseille manager has certainly made the desired impact. After eight games, Leeds are three points clear at the top of the Championship while playing arguably the best football in the league.
In quotes reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, Bielsa explains that he has an advantage over every other boss in England’s second tier.
“I have an advantage that not every head coach has,” the 63-year-old, who led Argentina and Chile to the World Cup, said.
“During 10 years in my career I worked as a head coach of national teams. This allows me to develop mechanisms so you can transmit features to a team in a fast way.
“When you prepare for a game with a national team, you only have two days. And you have one game per month. Not every coach has to face this type of situation and you can’t learn how to solve problems you don’t face.
“I think I have the advantage of being in situations where I had to find fast solutions.”
Bielsa is certainly among the most experienced managers in the Championship and it is that know-how that could bring an end to Leeds’ 15-year exile from the Premier League.
It remains to be seen, however, whether his high-intensity style can cope with the demands of a 46-game Championship season.
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