Leeds United analyst says he’s staying – Gives opinion on Jesse Marsch and Marcelo Bielsa

Leeds United are going through a period of change which the club hope will see quick results and save their future in the Premier League.

Having shown Marcelo Bielsa the door, those in charge at the Whites will be under some pressure to show they made the right decision, and have dispensed with one of the most-loved managers the game has seen in recent years to be able to avoid the Championship.

Often when a manager goes, so can many of the backroom staff, but Willy Alonso is staying, despite four other assistants having already gone.

Alonso is the head of analysis for Leeds United, and when asked about his future by Faro de Vigo, he said: “I am an employee of the club and my contract is not linked to the manager that Leeds has. I have two years signed with them that will be fulfilled, of course.”

Inevitably, Alonso was asked what he thought of the recently departed Argentine, and explained: “Because of his way of being, Marcelo Bielsa has always left lights and shadows both in his time at this club and in all those he has trained. That is something that we all know and know very well. Professionally I can tell you that I have never had any problems with him. Quite the contrary, he has always said that my work has helped him a lot in analysis and that is something that makes me proud.”

Then asked to give his opinion on Jesse Marsch, and how the newcomer will adapt to the tough challenges of the Premier League, the analyst said: “The first thing to say is that he comes from the first level and reaping great successes in his track record. Without a doubt, the Premier League is the most demanding of all, but the knowledge and experience that he brings will help him in this final stretch of the championship.”

Despite being content at Elland Road for now, Alonso doesn’t appear to see himself staying in England in the long term, and talked about a return to Spain: “It is true that I have been away from home for a long time and of course it is strange and there is always a desire to return. In any case, the professional framework marks a lot in a world like this. I hope I can return soon because I love my land.”