Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has heaped praise on Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa for the impact he has had on the team this season.
The Whites currently sit in second place in the Championship after a Kemar Roofe brace saw them win 2-1 against Queen’s Park Rangers on Saturday, but it is Bielsa who Goodman was focusing his attention on.
He raved about the impact Bielsa has had on all the players, even the younger ones – specifically referring to how they have had to come in and perform when the Whites were hit with a number of injuries.
“I honestly believe this fella (Bielsa) has had so much of an impact on all of those players, even the young players.” he said, as quoted by Leeds Live.
“We’re regularly watching Leeds United on Sky Sports bringing teenagers onto the pitch, who are excelling in a very pressurised environment. Make no mistake, they are the real deal Leeds United, this season.
“Probably for the first time in many, many years they are genuine automatic promotion contenders, and with that comes pressure.
“They’re putting youngsters into this environment, and they’re coping wonderfully well with the injuries that are coming their way, and they’re doing all of the things that you need to do to get promoted. Their home, Elland Road, is a fortress, and they have one of the best defences in the league.”
OPINION
Goodman has hit the nail on the head here – the impact Marcelo Bielsa has been making on this Leeds side since his arrival has been invaluable. The way he has been able to cope efficiently with the number of injuries that have come in his direction this season has been magnificent. He drafted in the younger players to cope with the mounting injury list and gave them the confidence to go out on the pitch and perform to the best of their ability – and that is exactly what they did. That is the reason why Leeds are where they are in the league table, as most clubs would have buckled under the stress of having their star players sidelined – but luckily for the Whites, they have a manager who has the know-how to cope with these situations. They are the “real deal” as Goodman pointed out – and they will be as long as Bielsa is in charge.