Paul Robinson raved about the job Marcelo Bielsa had done at Leeds United this season and pointed out that others previously questioned the manager.
The former Leeds goalkeeper shared that people were questioning him for working with such a small squad and working the players hard as previously that had seen other teams he had managed fade away before the season ended.
However Robinson noted that Bielsa had found other ways to win this season and pointed out that due to the manager being completely obsessed the work he had put in had proven its worth to Leeds.
“People were questioning the manager’s decision to take such a small squad, to work the players so hard, if you look at his record at other clubs his teams have generally faded in the last two to three months of the season and dropped away,” said Robinson on Football Centre (Sky Sports News, Monday 11th, 12:53)
“But they keep finding ways at Leeds, the players seem to like him, his attention to detail as we’ve seen in recent times over spygate, he wants to know everything.
“He is completely obsessed, the work that man puts into his job and his football team, the information he gives his players he leaves nothing out and that has proven its worth to Leeds.
“I went to see them play Norwich at home, they got well beaten, they lost 3-0, Norwich played them off the park and at the point I was worried for them.
“But he has found solutions, found another way of winning.”
OPINION
It’s no surprise to hear praise being heaped on Bielsa as the manager has been a revelation at Elland Road. Last season Leeds were closer to being embroiled in the battle for relegation rather than the race for promotion but under his guidance they’re even in contention for one of the automatic promotion places. While there are still several weeks to go, and many points to play for, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Leeds reach the promise land that is the Premier League. The Whites have gone through a bad run of form and come out the side all the better for it. While some feared Bielsa’s hard-working methods may see the players struggle to get over the line, that worry has been dismissed. Leeds may at times have missed certain players due to injury, like any other team, but they’ve coped just as well as anyone. Though it’s worth noting they have been a bit lucky that when Patrick Bamford has been injured, Kemar Roofe has been fit and vice versa. If they do get to the Premier League next season, Bielsa may increase the size of his squad just to be on the safe side.