Benoit Delaval has been speaking to The Athletic about his departure from Leeds, after the fitness coach followed Marcelo Bielsa in leaving Elland Road.
He is the first of Bielsa’s close backroom staff to speak out after the Argentine was replaced by Jesse Marsch, and there were some interesting comments.
What’s the story?
Well, Delaval revealed that he cannot bring himself to watch Leeds play anymore, after he was also sacked by the Whites.
The Athletic also shed a glimmer of light on how Delaval feels about Marsch accusing Bielsa of overworking the players.
At the start of April, the 48-year-old questioned the previous training methods, and even claimed that Bielsa’s style of play caused injuries.
Of course, that criticism also falls firmly in the lap of Delaval, whose job was to ensure players avoid injuries.
Thanks to The Athletic’s Daniel Taylor, we now know that Delaval has no intention of igniting a war of words with the American.
He is aware of what was said, but believes there is no value in hitting back with any sort of response, as it isn’t in his nature.
Nobody at Leeds needs to defend Marcelo Bielsa methods
In our view, Delaval is right not to respond, as he simply doesn’t need to.
Bielsa’s methods took Leeds from a pit of desperation and nothingness to a place where anything was possible, as he guided the Whites to ninth in the Premier League.
Marsch would be wise to remember that before commenting any further on his predecessor’s footballing philosophy.
Yes, it was an intense style, and it may well have caused injuries.
However, it ensured Leeds played some of the most entertaining football in the club’s history, while also rebuilding broken bonds between the Board and the fanbase.
Bielsa, nor Delaval, need to react, as they have already justified their methods emphatically.
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