In a rare interview with Stadio Astro, Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa has been speaking about Kalvin Phillips.
Bielsa was being asked about a number of his players and how the team has transformed under his management, and as you can imagine, Phillips was a key topic of conversation.
Bielsa was full of praise for the Yorkshire Pirlo, even going as far as to compare him to Atletico Madrid legend and current manager Diego Simeone, as well as former Chile star Gary Medel.
What’s been said?
Bielsa was asked if the 25-year-old reminds him of any other player he has managed in the past, to which he replied:
“In Newell’s Old Boys, he plays in the same position as Franco and Martino, in the national team from Argentina he plays like Simeone and Almeyda. From Chile he plays like Medel, I have managed different players in this position with the same quality of Phillips, in this moment Phillips is at a big level in this position around the world.”
The Yorkshire Simeone
Phillips may be colloquially known as the Yorkshire Pirlo, but perhaps it’s time for that nickname to change.
Yes, the England international has the passing range and vision to match Pirlo’s, but that nickname doesn’t give much credence to the tenacity and aggression he plays with, something that Simeone had an abundance of.
It’s nowhere near as catchy, but we can’t help but feel that the Yorkshire Simeone is a much better nickname than the one he currently has.
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