In the space of a few years, Marcelo Bielsa turned Leeds United from a stagnating Championship club to one many people switch their television on to watch in the Premier League.
While the results aren’t always consistent, there’s no denying the excitement his style of football has brought to England’s top-tier, and he’s quickly become something of an icon at Elland Road.
Few Leeds fans will speak ill of him, and there is a sort of unspoken bond, since Bielsa still hasn’t fully mastered the English language, between the supporters and their Argentine manager.
He’s fully aware of it, and the former Marseille man explained as much in an interview with Canal Football Club at the weekend, where he discussed the current situation regarding the lack of crowds in stadiums.
Marcelo Bielsa s'est confié avec émotion à notre micro (et avec le sourire !) ☺️🎙️
Un entretien à retrouver sur @myCANAL ▶️ : https://t.co/YdGO5VUebb pic.twitter.com/SxKFYkcYfa — CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) March 8, 2021
He said: “It’s very sad that the public isn’t there. The weeks when Leeds lose, I go in the streets. I don’t understand the language and don’t speak to anyone but I understand what the fans feel. We have someone who works for us at the club, and I always ask him what the fans feel and depending on what he says, I know what they’ve felt”.
Leeds United, currently 11th in the Premier League, face seventh placed West Ham at London Stadium on Monday evening, and a win for the Elland Road club could see them match Arsenal’s points total after 27 games, albeit with a lesser goal difference.
Unless they win 9-0, that is.
