Pundit scared for Leeds United as four backroom staff members leave Thorp Arch
We’re delighted to welcome former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Leeds United...
Paul Robinson is worried by the gamble Leeds United are taking by completely overhauling their backroom staff midway through the season.
Marcelo Bielsa was sacked on Sunday [27 February] and Training Ground Guru has since added that assistants Diego Reyes, Pablo Quiroga and Luis Ouvina, plus fitness coach Benoit Delaval, have also left Elland Road.
It is understood that head of analysis Guillermo Alonso and goalkeeper coach Marcos Abad are both staying as they have close ties with Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta.
Jesse Marsch has since been appointed as Bielsa’s successor but the legacy left behind at Thorp Arch by the Argentine means that it’s going to be a tough transition period, according to Robinson.
Speaking to MOT Leeds News, he said: “It’s a massive roll of the dice, it’s a massive gamble that they’ve taken – but it’s a decision they felt they had to take.
“Bielsa’s staff worked in a completely different way to any other manager’s and got things out of the players that other managers might not.
“Whether it was the end of this season or next year, whoever comes in to replace Bielsa was always going to be a big change.
“They’ve got a training ground that’s different to everybody else, it’s got a weird running track around the outside, there are bedrooms in the training ground, the manager’s got living quarters in there.
“Things that Bielsa does have his own little quirks and it’s why he’s made so many friends. He does things differently, he does things his way.
“If he’s leaving and four or five of his backroom staff are also leaving, it’s going to be one massive change.
“It’s a big, big gamble to do it at this stage of the season.”
Former Swansea City youth coach Cameron Toshack appears to have already joined Marsch’s new coaching team.
It remains to be seen who else will be appointed and also what the fate is of Bielsa’s popular translator Andre Clavijo as he also serves as an analyst for the first team.
In other Leeds United news, images show Bielsa leaving Thorp Arch for the final time.