Hasselbaink says Leeds man who has ‘no days off’ has been an ‘eye-opener’ for him

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Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has waxed-lyrical about Leeds United manager, Marcelo Bielsa, and stated that he has been an ‘eye-opener’ for him.

The former striker shared how Bielsa has ‘no days off’ and also stated that he likes to work with a ‘really small group’ on the training ground, as he told Sky Sports Football (16/07/20 at 7:30 pm).

Bielsa has transformed Leeds ever since he stepped foot into the club two seasons ago, and they are now heading back to the Premier League.

It isn’t a surprise to many that Leeds are in this position because of how Bielsa is thought of in the footballing world.

But still, as the last 15 or so years have proven, it is very difficult to try and push a club the size of Leeds over the line, but Bielsa has seemingly done it and he has been praised by Hasselbaink.

“He has been an eye-opener for me as a manager and a footballer,” Hasselbaink told Sky Sports. “As a coach, you look at him and how he goes about things. I’ve been to see how they train, what they do and what they stand for.

“'[They stand for] hard work. What you expect. But he has got this way of working. He works with a really small group. No days off. Little sessions. Speaks a lot and then he goes again.

“He works a lot on high intensity. High intensity is one of the most important things for him. And, for me, it was an eye-opener in how he puts everything together. He analyses. A lot, a lot after training and fter matches.

“I don’t know about the family, but the amount of work he puts in it’s amazing. And the football that they play is really nice to watch.”

West Brom and Brentford will be in action tonight, and on Saturday afternoon, respectively. If they drop points then Leeds are Premier League.

If both teams pick up wins then Bielsa’s side will simply need a point against Derby on Sunday to all but secure their return.

Given that the Rams prevented Leeds from returning to England’s top-flight last season, when they beat them in the playoffs. It would be something for those same players to put the wrongs of the last campaign right this time around.