Luke Ayling has revealed he has shed four kilos since the summer as he revealed the astonishing physical demands placed upon the Leeds United players by Marcelo Bielsa.
The right-back explained every member of the United squad has strict weight targets and not a single one of them has failed to reach them during daily weigh-ins.
Ever-present Ayling revealed that Leeds players were given just one day off in August and that they are all in the condition of their life.
“I’m the fittest, the skinniest, the leanest I’ve been,” Ayling told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “I thought I was skinny before but [Bielsa] came in and said ‘no, four kilos is what you’ve got to lose’. We had weight targets to reach each day.
“It’s tough and we’re not used to it but we found out in pre-season how it was going to be. We know what we’re going to be doing and that we’re going to be in pretty much every day so it doesn’t bother us. It’s no worries. We’ve lost weight but it’s fat we’re losing, not muscle. We’ve been putting on muscle.
“We’ve done our scans and all the things that should have gone up have gone up. All the things that should have gone down had gone down. There haven’t been any boys who’ve put weight back on or haven’t reached their targets.
“We can’t be carrying that extra weight around. The way he (Bielsa) wants us to work and play, the games come thick and fast and there’s no good in carrying an extra two or three kilos. He’s doing it to help us. You do feel lighter.”
OPINION
This is great insight from Ayling, who has been a key player since joining the club in the summer of 2016 but has taken his game to new heights since Bielsa took over. The right-back has started all six of Leeds’ Championship matches this season and epitomised the front-foot aggressive style demanded by the Argentine manager. A key element is for the players to be in prime condition, and Ayling’s detailed revelation of what Bielsa wants demonstrates his relentless demands. Daily weigh-ins are fairly astonishing for Championship clubs, although certainly very sensible and ideal way of keeping players in check. Crucial to such exacting standards is that every squad member buys into Bielsa’s methods and appreciates they have a once-in-a-career opportunity to play for one of the world’s most respected coaches. As it stands, every player understands the opportunity granted by Leeds’ stunning hire.