It didn’t take Leeds United supporters long to realise that, as far as Marcelo Bielsa was concerned, it was his way or the highway.
The sudden departure of Samu Saiz, midway through Bielsa’s first season at Elland Road, was put down to homesickness. A desire to be reunited with his family on Spanish soil.
But whatever the problems Saiz was facing off the pitch, arguably the most naturally-gifted footballer in Leeds’ squad was having his difficulties on it too.
The twinkle-toed playmaker sparkled at times under Bielsa. Those dizzying combinations with Pablo Hernandez and Kemar Roofe were a joy to behold. Enough to make even a dehydrated camel’s mouth water in the middle of the Saharan Dessert.
But what Saiz offered in skill and style, he lacked in substance.
The Yorkshire Evening Post pointed out in December 2018 that Saiz was struggling to cope with Bielsa’s exhausting training methods.
During those sweat-shedding fitness sessions, as Bielsa toiled to create a team capable of not only out-playing but also out-running everyone else in the Championship, Saiz could often be seen ‘lagging’ behind, struggling to keep up.
And, at the time of his departure, Saiz had started just one of Leeds’ previous seven league games.
Bielsa values tenacity as much as he does technique. Perhaps even more so. That is why dependable workhorses like Jack Harrison, Mateusz Klich and Dan James have retained the support of the boss, even when the fans threatened to turn.
That is also why Brenden Aaronson – the USA international Leeds offered £15 million for in the January transfer window – is seen at Thorpe Arch as a player tailor-made for Bielsa-ball (Athletic).
Is Brenden Aaronson ideal for Leeds United?
“The special thing is, I hardly know any other ‘number ten’ who works so much against the ball,” Red Bull Salzburg coach Matthias Jaissle tells BILD ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
“He always puts himself behind (helping out the defence). He’s a great team player, very hardworking and has a monster mentality.”
As you might expect from a coach raised in the Red Bull school of soccer, Jaissle – like Julian Nagelsmann, Jesse Marsch and Roger Schmidt – prefers a possession-heavy, high-pressing style.
If Aaronson fits Salzburg’s blueprint like a tailored Armani suit, then it’s no stretch to suggest he’d adapt to life at Leeds without much difficulty either.
Aaronson has four goals and eight assists to his name this season. But, perhaps even more importantly, he also averages two successful tackles per game in the Champions League.
No wonder Leeds like him. Salzburg’s ‘mentality monster’ with an eye for a goal and more energy than a Duracell battery.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
