Unfortunately, much of the European media seems to think Northern England is still struggling with the aftermath of the industrial revolution.
When there’s a feature on clubs such as Burnley, the Sheffield sides, or Leeds United, the area is painted very much in a grey light. Gritty and poor, downtrodden but with good spirit.
When Pierre-Michel Lasogga moved to the Championship club on loan, Hamburger Abendblatt sent a journalist to check the place out and his report wasn’t exactly glowing.
Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia have quite a big article on Leeds United in their Tuesday edition, and it follows a similar theme.
The city is said to be a long way from its ‘Barcelona of the North’ heyday, and issues with immigration, and a straight split on Brexit are highlighted.
The club and Leeds itself are said to have been ‘in a deep state of depression’, having ‘no glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel’.
And then? Well then came Marcelo Bielsa of course, and now everything is much brighter.
La Vanguardia don’t yet credit the Argentine with revolutionising the entire city, but they’re not far off. A picture is painted of the coach bringing light to darkness and 
providing hope where hope had been lost.
Whereas Bielsa approach hasn’t worked everywhere, it’s explained he ‘fits like a silk glove’ at Leeds.
And if promotion is achieved, playing a brand of football which La Vanguardia contrast with the general misery they suggest was around the place previously, then: ‘In Leeds he will be God.’
