The Sheffield Wednesday forward was a target for Leeds United three years ago.
Marcelo Bielsa’s blistering start to the season at Leeds United has led to praise from a number of unlikely sources – including Sheffield Wednesday’s Fernando Forestieri.
Bielsa beat title favourites Stoke City 3-1 in his first competitive game as Leeds head coach, which was broadcast live to the nation on Sunday afternoon.
The result was made all the more impressive as it was achieved with 10 of last season’s team, which lumbered to a 14th-place finish, involved in the starting line up.
And it is understandable then that Bielsa has received most of the plaudits so far – even from those you might not expect to provide them.
Posting via his Instagram story on Sunday, Forestieri – who was a target for Leeds before he arrived at Sheffield Wednesday – wrote: “El loco [Crazy] Bielsa”, adding the praising hands emoji.
And while Wednesday fans are unlikely to take too kindly to one of their players lauding a rival club’s employee, the 28-year-old has a valid excuse – being a native of Rosario, Argentina, the city where Bielsa is revered for his time in charge of Newell’s Old Boys.
Newell’s, for whom Forestieri played as a youth, even named their stadium after the 63-year-old in 2009.
Will Bielsa’s Leeds beat Forestieri’s Sheffield Wednesday back to the Premier League?
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