English Championship: A first look at Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds

When rumours first broke of Marcelo Bielsa potentially heading to Leeds, I was filled with intrigue  would Bielsa take a job in the second division? How would his philosophy translate to a team that will most likely be worse technically than his previous teams? How will the players cope with Bielsa’s high pressing system over a 46 game season? Considering Leed’s recent history with managers, will he last longer than Christmas?

When it was officially announced that Marcelo Bielsa would indeed be taking over at Leeds, it sent a message to the rest of the world, that Leeds were aiming to restore their place in the Premier League, which has eluded them for the last 14 years  and they wanted to do it in style.

Leeds dipped into the transfer market, strengthening their squad with some impressive additions, including young talents Jack Harrison (from Man City) and Lewis Baker (Chelsea) on loan and the addition of one the best players in the Championship last season in Wolves Barry Douglas.

Pre-season followed, which was a rollercoaster of results as Bielsa instilled his philosophy into the team, starting with a narrow 2-1 victory over League 2 side Forest Green Rovers, followed by 1-1 draws against York City and Southend before a couple of seven-goal thrillers  a 4-3 defeat by Oxford City and a 4-3 victory over Guiseley. Las Palmas provided the last friendly and some stiff competition, in which Leeds ran out victors, winning 1-0.

Bielsa’s first game in charge was to be a baptism of fire, against newly relegated (and bookies favourites for promotion) Stoke City.

Team News

Marcelo Bielsa lined his Leeds team up in a 4-1-4-1 formation for his debut game, with new signing Barry Douglas the only one of the new signings to start the match. Douglas was joined in defence with the centre-back pairing of Gaetano Berardi and Liam Cooper with Luke Ayling at right full-back.

Defensive midfield duties went to youngster Kalvin Phillips, who, aged just 22, has already started 64 championship games. Partnering him in central midfield was Mateusz Klich and Samuel Saiz. They were joined by Pablo Hernandez and Egzijan Alioski on the wings with Kemar Roofe leading the line in attack.