Chris Coleman shared on Monday Night Football on Sky Sports that Javier Mascherano told him that when it comes to Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa ‘you know as a player that he has improved you’.
Now working his magic in Yorkshire, Bielsa would have coached Barcelona great Mascherano during their days with the Argentina national team.
As Leeds supporters have seen, a number of their players would be used in different positions throughout the season, and as a player, Mascherano was no different.
Throughout the footballing world, Bielsa has many admirers and former Wales boss Coleman is no different.
“He’s certainly that coach that I have studied and read for a long time,” said Coleman. “I worked with Javier Mascherano in China and I spoke with him about Marcelo.
“And he said, the one thing after you have worked with him, as a player, is that you know he has improved you. And you cannot give a coach a bigger compliment than that.
“I think what he has done at Leeds is absolutely fantastic. The way they play is much to be admired, for sure.”
It needs to be remembered that a number of the current crop of players being used by Bielsa were finishing mid-table in the Championship only two seasons ago under a different coach.
The individual or individuals who made the call to bring Bielsa to Leeds will now realise that it’s one of the best calls they ever made.
From finishing mid-table in the Championship prior to Bielsa’s takeover, the Yorkshire outfit are now dreaming of a potential European finish as they move into the Premier League’s top ten.
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