A lot of Leeds United fans have responded to a piece by Graham Smyth about Marcelo Bielsa’s difficulties in translating his message and getting his point across.
The piece focuses on Bielsa’s admission that he is shunned in Argentina and accused of “selling smoke.”
Should Leeds get a new translator for Bielsa?
Yes, too many things are misinterpreted
No, if Bielsa likes him keep him
In Argentina, this means they feel that Bielsa talks a lot of waffle.
However, it appears that Bielsa was actually answering the wrong question – as his translator Diego Flores misinterpreted the question and then did so again later on in the press conference.
Smyth points out that Flores is one of Bielsa’s assistants and is not a trained linguist, so there is a danger that some of what Bielsa says can get lost in translation.
This piece has gained a lot of replies from Leeds fans who are keen to talk about the role of the interpreter and how they are still behind Bielsa.
Marcelo Bielsa, not for the first time, got lost in translation yesterday with another press conference that fed tension instead of soothing it.
But no one in Leeds is mocking him. And he's not alone.https://t.co/hZVpw1WUTf#lufc
— Graham Smyth (@GrahamSmyth) February 14, 2020
Is it the translator that’s failing? Can the club not see that that might cause problems and it needs rectifying? Bring back @SalimLamraniOff
— Rob Stanworth (@Stannie655) February 14, 2020
Excellent piece Graham, I hope he reads this one.
— Nicky ?? (@reckoner29) February 14, 2020
Leeds United need to employ a roper translator. It’s embarrassing. @LUFC
— Dav (@DavAldridgeMOT) February 14, 2020
I really hope that Marcelo reads this, I for one want us to go up so he stays and we can all have at least one more season together, it’s the least we all deserve ??
— ghoods (@Girhodes5) February 14, 2020
By a country mile, the best thing to happen to Leeds in years! We need to support him and let him know it.
— Richard Hamlyn (@RichieHamlyn) February 14, 2020
Excellent and emotional article which echoes the feelings of most #lufc fans, I’m sure. @MoscowhiteTSB made similar points on @TheSquareBall podcast earlier this week from previous pressers. Do hope MB reads this
— Peter Van Zelst (@petervz) February 14, 2020
Absolutely, I hope he hears this message.
— Sean Brittain (@SeanBrittain) February 14, 2020
What do we think?
This is a good piece from Smyth, and it seems to capture well how many Whites fans feel about Bielsa.
The role of Flores is important as he allows Bielsa to convey his opinions and feelings, and although some things get lost in translation, Bielsa needs to know that many fans are still behind him.