The Athletic’s Phil Hay has provided an update on Marcelo Bielsa’s future during his recent Q&A session with a group of Leeds United supporters. He was asked whether or not the 64-year-old would have the appetite for a third season in the Championship if the Whites aren’t promoted.
Hay replied by saying: “He will stick around until this season is settled (and I’d expect him to stay if Leeds go up). If they don’t, all bets are off. Nobody expected him to go at a third Championship term if Leeds had missed out on promotion this season – but if they miss out because of [the pandemic], that’s not the same thing. Would injustice and unfinished business make him stick around?”
The Whites currently find themselves top of the Championship, seven points clear of Fulham in third place. Having missed out on promotion back to the Premier League last season after being eliminated by Frank Lampard’s Derby County at the play-off semi-final stage, the Argentinian will surely be keen to put that right this term.
TIF Tactics – Losing Bielsa would be a huge blow
Bielsa arrived at Elland Road in July 2018 having previously managed the likes of Marseille, Athletic Bilbao, Chile and Argentina in his career so far. Since taking charge, his side have played 91 fixtures, winning 49, drawing 16 and losing 26, earning an average of 1.79 points per match.
There have been discussions about the Championship resuming next month, and it was recently reported in the Mirror that the competition could kick off again before the Premier League. At the time of the league’s suspension, the Whites were in excellent form, having won each of their last five fixtures.
Are you confident Bielsa will stay on even if Leeds aren't promoted?
Yes
No
However, it is unknown what impact the enforced pause will have on the form of all the clubs, given training has been disrupted and nobody has played a competitive fixture since early March. With the added effect of having to play behind closed doors, in our view, it is extremely difficult to predict how things will go.
The Bielsa factor has seen Leeds improve dramatically, finishing third in the 2018/19 campaign, six points off of an automatic promotion spot – in comparison to their 13th-placed finish the season before. We believe he is key to the club sustaining their success of this season so far.