Danny Mills suggested Leeds United lacked players with the character and personality needed to win a league title but that Marcelo Bielsa had found a way to make up for that.
Mills was asked whether Leeds’ scenario could compare to Liverpool winning the league title and how they needed characters as well as personalities in their team to be successful.
The former Whites defender admitted they didn’t really have those sort of players but that Bielsa had instilled such a belief in his squad that perhaps it didn’t matter and that it’s just case of wait and see with Leeds’ title challenge this season.
“Without a doubt, you will start to get a little bit nervous but they don’t really have the players in there,” said Mills on Sky Sports News (Friday February 1st, 12:46).
“But what I think Marcelo Bielsa has brought to the club and instilled in the players is a huge belief, he knows exactly what he is doing, his preparation, he’s been there, he’s done in, he knows what big games are all about and Leeds are almost playing with a naivety of actually we can’t play like this all season, with such a small squad, but maybe they could and it’s starting to work.
“He’s always brought in a lot of youngsters and they tend to play with a bit more freedom, it’s the second and third season for youngsters where a bit of reality kicks in and they start to fall away.
“So they’ve put themselves in a great position but we just have to wait and see.”
OPINION
It seems that even though Leeds currently sit top of the Championship, Mills isn’t overly confident that they will be lifting the league title when it’s all said and done. However clearly the pundit is rooting for his former club as he is full of praise for how they have been able to put themselves in a great position at this stage of the season. While Mills’ highlights Leeds’ lack of characters or personalities, Bielsa clearly has enough character and personality to cover not having those sort of players in the squad. Leeds have defied expectations all season long and it’s clear to see that they will continue to do so as long as key players stay fit. The Whites may not have welcomed Daniel James from Swansea City to the club in the January window despite being linked to him, but they should have enough to continue going full steam ahead towards winning promotion at the very least.