Leeds United started the Marcelo Bielsa reign with a 2-1 pre-season friendly win against League Two Forest Green.
There is a reason why Marcelo Bielsa is one of the most influential tacticians in 21st century football; a man who has inspired Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino among many others across the globe.
There is a reason why Marcelo Bielsa’s teams play some of the most fluid, fast-paced and exciting football around; why his Athletic Bilbao and Marseille teams won the hearts of the neutrals and struck fear into bigger clubs.
There is a reason why Leeds United fans should be feeling very optimistic about the season ahead regardless of the many false dawns and the galling lack of transfer market activity.
And Leeds’ 2-1 friendly win against Forest Green this week explains exactly why Leeds were so determined to bring Bielsa to Elland Road and make him the most highly-paid coach in their history. His attention to detail is pretty much second to none.
According to Leeds Live, Bielsa demanded video footage of Forest Green’s most recent pre-season clashes against Briscombe, Thrupp, Torquay United and Weston Super-Mare in order to analyse his League Two opposition to every minute detail.
Bielsa is renowned for his organisation and his refusal to leave any stone unturned. And this reflects an insatiable will to win that can surely only benefit a Leeds side that resembled a muddled mess during the reigns of Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom last season.
The jury remains out on whether Bielsa’s exhaustive methods will work in a 46-game Championship season. But it is already becoming clear that he is a manager the likes of which Leeds have not seen in years.
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