Two of the Premier League’s most experienced coaches come up against each other on Saturday when Leeds United visit Crystal Palace.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side visit London with the hope that they can bounce back from the 4-1 drubbing dished out by Leicester City a little earlier this week.
You wouldn’t back against Leeds hammering the Eagles tomorrow but, by the same token, you wouldn’t put your money on them either.
Truthfully, United are a such a mixed bag since Bielsa got them back into the Premier League after a 16-year absence.
It was a pretty big deal when Leeds hired the enigmatic South American, who had managed the likes of Athletic Bilbao, Marseille and Lazio prior to joining the Elland Road side.
And Roy Hodgson, Bielsa’s opposite number tomorrow, has admitted to The Yorkshire Evening Post that he’s been a big fan of the 64-year-old for quite a long time.
Hodgson, who turned 73 in August, said: “I have never met him unfortunately, of course I have always known about him but I look forward to meeting him tomorrow.
“Obviously Marcelo is a man who has had a lot of success since coming to Leeds and I think it was an inspired decision to take him on as manager.”
It was indeed an inspired decision because Leeds are holding their own against some of the Premier League’s biggest and best teams so far.
They would have earned a 3-3 draw at Liverpool on the opening day if not for a last-minute Mo Salah penalty, before then holding Manchester City to a draw at Elland Road a few weeks later.
On their day, Leeds could punish a team like Palace but Hodgson, being a vastly-experienced figure himself, will be well aware of where his troops could get hurt.
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