Steve Bruce has lavished praise on Leeds United counterpart Marcelo Bielsa ahead of tonight’s trip to Newcastle United.
The legendary Argentine coach has transformed Leeds in a big way over the past three years.
In his first season, Bielsa took United to the Championship playoffs, where they lost in the semi-final to Derby County.
In his second, the Whites won automatic promotion to the Premier League after a 16-year absence from the top flight at that time.
In his third, Bielsa masterminded a brilliant return to the big time as Leeds finished ninth in the Premier League table – and beat champions Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium despite having 10 men.
The West Yorkshire side finished 13th in the Championship just two months before Bielsa’s arrival in the summer of 2018, illustrating his impact.
And Bruce, whose Newcastle side host the Whites at St James’s Park in a few hours, has told The Mirror that he has been a keen observer throughout the South American’s three-year stint in England.
He said: “When I took Sheffield Wednesday there a few years ago I witnessed first hand the change in Leeds. There was a group of players who had been in and around that league, no disrespect to them, for a long time. And the impact of what the manager has done there… I have not seen an impact like that.
“So I have nothing but respect for the guy who has gone there and transformed Leeds.”
Overdue win
Leeds go to the North East tonight in search of a first victory.
It has been a difficult start to their second Premier League season under Bielsa, having dropped 10 points so far.
Bielsa’s side, who sit 17th in the table, have drawn two and lost two of their first four games.
But if we know anything about this Leeds side, it’s that the players will go to the ends of the earth for their head coach and it wouldn’t be a surprise if they got the ball rolling by beating the Magpies.
A win is overdue at this point, when you consider their form last term.
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