Leeds United stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell was set to lose his place as number one at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa’s public comments about Bailey Peacock-Farrell are similar to the tactics that Paul Heckingbottom used to motivate the Leeds United goalkeeper.
There was no way Leeds fans would ever have known Peacock-Farrell was set for the drop, if Bielsa hadn’t revealed all.
But the comments may serve as a warning for Peacock-Farrell not to let his standards slip.
And Heckingbottom took a similar tactic with the Leeds youngster when he was in charge.
Heckingbottom was the first Leeds boss to give Peacock-Farrell regular game time, but he questioned the prospect’s motivation.
“I had a chat with Bailey about pushing on and wanting to improve,” Heckingbottom said to the Yorkshire Evening Post.
“I felt, and he agreed, that he’d become a bit static. I told him it’s down to him. If he wants to push forward then it’s up to him where his career takes him.
“You can’t just come into training every day, train and go home. You come in for a reason and a purpose.”
While Bielsa did not question Peacock-Farrell’s showings in training, his comments did suggest that he felt that the Northern Ireland international had let his standards slip.
And Bielsa will be hoping that his warning serves to help Peacock-Farrell add the consistency to his game that he really needs if he is going to fulfil his potential at Elland Road.
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