Noel Whelan has claimed that Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa will be “desperate” to keep hold of coach Carlos Corberan.
The 36-year-old is understood to be a target for Spanish third division side Cultural Leonesa, as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post, but Whelan believes that his boss will want him to stay at Elland Road with him.
Speaking to Football Insider, he said: “Carlos Corberan has made a big impact at Leeds and is tipped to eventually become the first-team manager.
“Bielsa will be desperate to keep him, absolutely.
“The two of them work closely together and the manager will want to build on that next season. You have to keep that continuity with the manager and his backroom staff. Corberan is also vital in helping pave the way for the best youngsters to progress into the first team.
“This will ruin Bielsa’s holiday if he leaves.”
OPINION
Whelan is bang on the money here. Bielsa runs a tight ship, and there is no way that he would happily let one of his most important backroom staff members just walk away from the club. Corberan has done a wonderful job with the U23s in recent years, and that has led to a number of bright young talents forcing their way into first team. That pathway is very important for a side outside of the top flight, and the Spaniard is the man to thank for it. There seems to be a general consensus around Elland Road that Corberan is being groomed for the top job one day, and if that is true then it owed make his departure even worse. Whether it actually happens or not remains to be seen, but it is fair to assume that Bielsa will fight tooth and nail to prevent one of his best men from going the journey this summer.
