Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa have been getting a lot of attention from the South American press lately.
First, because it was a well known manager taking charge of a famous club, followed by the story about players cleaning the training ground, and now, it’s the team’s great form that has been making it to the news.
However, it’s not all positive.
Today, Argentine newspaper La Nacion features an interview with Alfio ‘Coco’ Basile. The former national team manager had a two-page chat with the outlet, talking a lot about local football, players and managers.
When asked about Bielsa, La Nacion claim Basile took his time to answer, describing his quotes as a ‘singular point of view’ about the manager.
“… I don’t want to talk about Bielsa because he’s the biggest marketer I’ve seen in my life”, Basile told La Nacion. “It’s probably not his fault because he seems like a good guy, but I can not explain why they broadcast a B match”
‘La B’ is how Argentines call the second division, which in Leeds case, is the Championship.
“Who pays for that? Find out! Who paid when he managed Lille? I cannot believe it. He never takes charge of a big team, with an obligation to win. Now, as a manager, all the players say that he is a very good coach, and if the majority matches…”
“I spoke with him only once in Atocha, at Madrid’s train station. I went to see the national team, who played in Sevilla, and he was in charge of Argentina. He saw me and invited me to sit down for coffee. I remember that he asked me what the qualifiers were like. ‘Local or visitor?’ I said. ‘Visitors throw you arrows, lions, cougars and stones. And local, you’re really local ‘, and he started to laugh.”
“But then I didn’t see him anymore; They are odd guys, you don’t see them anywhere. But who has had their games broadcasted playing in B? Not even Mourinho …! I can’t explain it”.
So even though Leeds are getting some great exposure for having their matches broadcasted in South America, some people are still wondering why the Whites are on their TV.
