Journalist Adam Pope has highlighted two instances where Marcelo Bielsa could have suddenly left his post as manager of Leeds United.
Pope was recently a guest on the latest episode of Off The Ball’s ‘The Football Show’ podcast and the BBC journalist answered many questions about the Elland Road-based club. One thing he was asked about was Bielsa and he chose to focus on what has annoyed the manager during his time at the Yorkshire club.
Host Joe Molloy questioned how Bielsa’s temperament could affect his future at Leeds with the club on the brink of promotion, referencing his previous spell at Lazio, where he spent just a couple of days in charge.
In response, Pope said: “I’ll be honest, it’s in the back of my mind – Lazio, they failed to deliver their promises, he walked out after two days. And there’s been a few tests on the way, if you think about it; Ronaldo Vieira, a really promising midfielder, was sold literally weeks into his first summer at Leeds to Sampdoria – not an ideal situation. He said that if he’d stayed another year, [he’d] have doubled his value rather than the £7 million or whatever it was he went for. So he didn’t go on the back of that, that has obviously been discussed, Leeds have been straight with him.
Can Bielsa ever leave Leeds suddenly like he left Lazio?
Never!
You never know about him!
“And then the whole ‘spygate’ thing – as a reporter, I’ve got to be honest, being objective, I thought the way he was treated was disgusting because I still don’t think he did anything wrong and to be fined and punished for something that had no rule or law until retrospectively, was really bad. Again, I thought, well could he walk on the back of that if he’s being called a cheat? He didn’t, he stayed and he’s seen it through. I think the times he has got rattled is either when there has been maybe the odd story and he’s just completely disagreed or he feels that he’s being mocked.”
Pope thinks that Vieira’s sale to Sampdoria and the ‘spygate’ incident were two instances where Bielsa could have walked out on Leeds, and that he can feel disturbed if he is made a mockery of in the media.
TIF Thoughts…
Bielsa had left Lazio because the Serie A had reportedly not fulfilled the promises of signing the players that he needed. They had agreed to sign four players before his arrival, but the club was unable to do so (as per Goal).
The Argentine led Leeds to a play-off spot last season while they are currently at the top of the Championship table. It shows that he has helped the club a lot over the last couple of seasons and Leeds could be promoted to the Premier League this weekend.
It shows that the Whites can’t afford to lose Bielsa anytime soon. His history may suggest they have to meet his demands or risk creating a Lazio-like situation where Bielsa potentially leaves in an abrupt manner.