Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich has revealed that there were a number of frustrated figures among the senior squad when Marcelo Bielsa introduced his training methods on his arrival this season.
The Whites made a blistering start to their Championship campaign as the Argentine lived up to prior expectations of his reputation, utilising a fast paced, intensive tactic to try and bring success to Elland Road.
However Klich has confirmed that the players were worked incredibly hard by the manager and that there were some dissident voices among the squad.
He told Leeds Live: “In the summer there were no games, it was tactics, tactics, tactics and physical training. It was a very difficult period, we ran a lot, worked out in the gym and then we worked on tactics.
“We were exhausted. Some teammates complained, but we respect our coach and we quickly understood what he was planning to achieve.
“We train harder than ever before, but we enjoy it. Everyone believes that he can help us become better players and that is why we have to listen to him.”
Opinion
This should not come as any great surprise, for the Whites’ performances last season made it look like some of the squad had not worked hard for a day in their life. That has most certainly changed now and while Klich might insist there were some complaints, he fails to address whether they were complaining about the manager or whether it is more generally about the impacts of training – for there were likely some sore muscles among the squad heading into the new season. Bielsa has worked these players to within an inch of their full capacity and the results are clear. Everyone looks fitter and the performance are reflective of the effort taking place off the pitch. Is the manager risking burning his players out before the end of the season? That certainly could be a worry for the Elland Road faithful, who will be enjoying the all-energy performances from their side but wary that the Championship is not a sprint but a marathon. Will the Whites have used up their reserves before the season is over? Only time will tell.