OPINION
Leeds fans were excited when Marcelo Beilsa was unveiled as their new manager and they’re set to be thrilled from Sunday at Elland Road when his new side take on former Premier League side Stoke.
Bielsa hosted his first pre-match press conference earlier today and started off by apologising that he was speaking through a translator.
He promised that he was working hard on his English but he got one point across very succinctly – Leeds are going to play creative, attacking football this season.
Phil Hay from the Yorkshire Evening Post quoted Bielsa as saying that he wants to impose his style on games and wants to play in the opponent’s half.
He wants to attack rather than defend, and if he has to defend he wants to attack again as soon as possible.
And, in a breath of fresh air for Championship lovers, he said he doesn’t want to see long balls, although he admitted it could be forced on him by certain opponents.
Bielsa: "We want to impose our style. The idea is to play in the opponent's half. We can dominate the opponent if we impose this idea. Our idea is to attack more than our defend. If we defend, the goal is to attack again as soon as possible."
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 3, 2018
also said he doesn't want to see long balls. "But the opponent could make us do things differently to what we plan."
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 3, 2018
Bielsa on his philosophy: "I want to be a protagonist. I don't want to speculate. I want to play in the opponent's side rather than our side. I like my team to attack not defend. I take the risk to attack in small spaces and defend in big spaces. I prefer players with creativity"
— Phil Hay (@PhilHay_) August 3, 2018
In a time when Jose Mourinho has taken over Man United and turned them into a team that prefers to defend than attack, Bielsa’s words will delight true football fans.
Of course, there’s a danger that it might not work out, but the season hasn’t started yet and until proved otherwise, we should assume he knows what he’s doing, drink his words in and look forward to thrill-a-minute football at Leeds.
Leeds are already on TV more than pretty much any other team in England and this could bring a team, that still prides itself on being “hated, into the hearts of neutrals everywhere.
What football fan wouldn’t want their manager to come out and say this before the start of a season?
It’s a hugely exciting time for Leeds supporters and if Bielsa can score his way to promotion, he’ll be an instant Leeds legend.