OPINION
Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa is a man who knows what he wants and that extends to those who he surrounds himself with.
The Argentine boss has a circle of trusted coaches who meet his demands and tick all the boxes he needs from his coaching staff, with the individuals behind the scenes the same he has called upon at previous clubs.
One new addition to his closest allies is Carlos Corberan, the under-23 coach working at Elland Road before Bielsa’s arrival, his survival from Paul Heckingbottom’s exit demonstrating that he is highly thought of by the top brass as well as the man in charge in the dugout.
His impact on the under-23s has been nothing short of exceptional, the Whites triumphing as PDL North champions and seeing a number of young talents, including Jack Clarke, Jamie Shackleton and Bailey Peacock-Farrell, make the step up to the senior side.
It is for this reason that Bielsa will be praying that Ivan Bravo, a board member at Elland Road, head of the Aspire Academy Group and vice president of Cultural Leonesa, does not poach Corberan from Leeds for the Spanish side, with Diario De Leon claiming that he was second on the senior figure’s shortlist to take charge as manager after Oscar Fernandez.
However, Bravo has now been confirmed as part of a takeover at AD Alcorcon, with Diario De Leon saying that Oscar Fernandez is now set for Alcorcon rather than Leonesa – which would leave Corberan as the new front runner.
To add yet more confusion to the mix, Radio Marca report that the takeover at Alcorcon could see Bravo forced to step down from his leadership role at Leonesa due to a conflict of interests.
Bielsa will be loath to lose one of his top figures and will be hoping that all this confusion leads to Corberan staying at Thorp Arch.