Bielsa’s Leeds side currently sit second in the Championship table.
Tony Dorigo has told Leeds United’s official website that he believes Marcelo Bielsa has instilled a toughness into his squad, something that was missing from both Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom’s sides last season.
Leeds picked up another three points on Saturday with an excellent 1-0 win away at Sheffield United, thanks to Pablo Hernandez who tapped home after good work from teenage winger Jack Clarke.
Bielsa has guided his Leeds side to second in the Championship table behind Norwich City, with only point separating the top two sides. The Whites are four points clear of third-placed West Bromwich Albion.
The win was Leeds’ third consecutive victory and clean sheet, and Dorigo believes the current Leeds side can no longer be labelled as soft after Saturday’s physical battle – which he reckons has changed from last season.
“The tackles were flying in,” Dorigo said. “You can be physical, but then go slightly too far. But you have to match the opposition’s physicality. I thought they [Sheffield United] could have gone down to nine men.
“I thought one or two things in the penalty box didn’t go our way. To deal with that, but still show our character, I don’t think you can call us soft in anyway. Compare that to last season, I thought we were soft – we got bullied.”
Leeds sacked Christiansen in February 2018 after the former Barcelona player failed to provide Leeds with a promotion run, while Heckingbottom managed just four wins in 16 matches in charge.
The Whites go up against Steve McClaren’s QPR on Saturday at Elland Road, who are going well under the former England manager at Loftus Road. Coincidentally, Leeds have been drawn away at QPR in the third round of the FA Cup.
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