‘Really emotional’: Don Hutchison wowed by Bielsa’s actions at Leeds

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Don Hutchison claimed that Marcelo Bielsa looked ‘really emotional’ after he handed Archie Gray a place in Leeds United’s matchday squad on Sunday, as he told the Weekend Review on PL Productions (17/01/22 12:35 pm).

The TV pundit added that he just couldn’t believe a 15-year-old was named on the bench because he ‘didn’t remember’ where he was or what he was doing at that age, as he lauded Bielsa for his actions.

With Premier League games being called off left, right and centre, Bielsa isn’t going down that road.

If it means having a bench full of teenagers, then the Leeds boss is going to do just that, which is a credit to himself, his trust and his coaching.

As a result, Hutchison shared that if he was a teenager playing football again, then he would want to play for Leeds.

“If I could go back and play again and be a teenager,” said Hutchison. “The one place I would want to be is Leeds United under Bielsa.

“They had a lad called Archie Gray on the bench. 15! He is 15-years-old and he is on the bench.

“I listened to Bielsa’s interview afterwards, but he looked really emotional. I think he said ’emotional’. He has tried to put an arm around all these babies that are on the bench, bar one or two.

“And he still got the game on. They were in a little trouble this season. But Bielsa has been brave. He has never said ‘my squad is injured’. He has gone to these babies and said ‘go play, if we go down, then it’s the development of the player’. I don’t remember where I was at 15!”

Young Gray, who is the great-nephew of Leeds legend, Eddie, didn’t get on the pitch against West Ham, but don’t bet against it happening.

Given Bielsa’s methods and his belief, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he throws Gray into the XI during these coming weeks.

It would be crazy and brilliant at the same time, but Bielsa is the type of manager to showcase that belief in a player.

But even if Gray doesn’t get onto the pitch, one thing is for sure, this experience of being part of the Leeds squad is something he will remember for a very long time.