Gary Neville has suggested that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa has done an exceptional job, but doesn’t make his nomination for manager of the year.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville was mentioning the managers who he felt had done an exceptional job, and had to be reminded about Leeds boss Bielsa by presenter Dave Jones.
Bielsa has guided Leeds into the top half in their first season back in the Premier League.
Leeds have achieved their success in great style too, with the Whites impressing all observers.
But Neville thinks that Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea are still ahead of him in the race for the Manager of the Year title.
He said: “I still think Tuchel or Pep are going to win the Champions League. To win that is a massive thing.
“Rodgers has done a brilliant job. You have to balance off the budgets that these managers have, Rodgers, Sean Dyche at Burnley. These are exceptional managerial performances.David Moyes at West Ham.
“We haven’t even mentioned Bielsa, because a lot of Leeds fans will be screaming about him, won’t they,” Jones interjected.
“To be honest with you, Bielsa at Leeds, absolutely – exceptional performance,” Neville responded.
“But I would still go with Tuchel or Guardiola, because to win the Champions League and the league and the Carabao Cup, which Pep could do, that takes some doing.”
Leeds fans may argue that the job Bielsa has done is every bit as impressive as Pep Guardiola, given their respective budgets.
But Bielsa is unlikely to be too worried about missing out on the personal accolade.
The Leeds boss has received plenty of praise this season, and there is a feeling that the Whites could be even more of a force under him next time around.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
