Stuart Dallas hopes to repay Marcelo Bielsa by guiding Leeds to safety
Leeds ace Stuart Dallas has told BBC Radio Leeds it was ’emotional’ when the players had to say goodbye to Marcelo Bielsa this week, but is hopeful of fulfilling his final wish at the club.
Bielsa was sacked after three-and-a-half years on Sunday after nine defeats in 12 games, with the club just two points above the relegation zone heading into Saturday’s game with Leicester City.
Dallas was part of the squad who earned promotion to the Premier League and then finished ninth last season, and says that Bielsa ‘changed our lives’ before revealing the final thing he wants to do for his former gaffer.
“I think we can look back with fond memories,” he said. “It’s been an absolute, crazy journey with Marcelo coming in and I’ll be honest it was pretty emotional on Monday when he came in to say goodbye.
“I think as players we all know what he’s done for us in recent years and he’s changed our lives really, for the better, as individuals, as a team, as a club as a city.
“I just hope we can sit at the end of the season and reflect properly on the job he’s done and what he’s done for us all.
“He’s left this club in a much better position than it was [in] when he came in and it’s somebody who can be very proud of the work that he’s done here. As players we’re so, so grateful.”
New chapter
It’s the start of a new era for the Whites today when they face off with Leicester, but the previous tenure still looms large over the club.
Bielsa is a legend at the club and despite the poor form and being sacked last week, the fans never turned on him and the vast majority are disappointed that he was let go.
It’s now down to the players to show that the poor performances weren’t necessarily down to him and more down to a bundle of other variables.
If new manager Jesse Marsch can push the club towards safety, not only will he be loved by the fans but he will give the fans and the players a chance to celebrate the end of the Bielsa chapter with a positive glint.
Dallas’ performances individually have been good and now he needs that to trickle through the rest of the team and hopefully see good results come from it to give the former boss his ideal send off.
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