Melchiot: Holland needs passion of Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds
Holland is famed for being a country steeped in footballing prestige but Mario Melchiot thinks lessons can be learned from Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United.
The ex-Chelsea defender was asked on talkSPORT’s GameDay warm-up show [09:00, 13/03/21] whether he would have enjoyed playing under the tutelage of Bielsa.
“He’s very intelligent and I understand how he wants to play the game, it’s a very tactical game and Holland is very aware of it,” Melchiot said.
“The way he thinks about football… Holland managers they just focus ‘football, football, football’ and I think sometimes it is not bad to win a game through pure character.
“Sometimes we miss out on that, I’m sure Bielsa doesn’t because he has enough passion. In Holland that is the only part we sometimes forget.”
Bielsa brilliance thrills all
After starting his career at Ajax before spending 11 years in England Melchiot knows a thing or two about tactics and the way football should be played.
It is great to hear just how far the Bielsa influence is extending.
We all know the effect of El Loco in football – Pep Guardiola hasn’t been shy in sharing the inspiration he has taken from him.
But since moving to West Yorkshire his profile seems to have risen immeasurably and even more football figures are sitting up to take notice.
That is because this is the perfect marriage – a huge club in dire need of a figurehead who could shape the direction of the club.
Bielsa’s tactics nuances have been huge in transforming our style of play but do not underestimate the effect he has had on the character and profile of our players and staff.
While his ultra-cool persona permeates a relaxed but driven approach derived at Thorp Arch he still possesses that element of rage that ensures his charges do everything to win the game that they are training for.
His infamous ‘Murderball’ training regime inspires players to reach their maximum and that is the passion Melchiot speaks so highly of.
It looks like everyone is sitting up and taking notes.
In other Leeds United news, Michael Owen claims Whites must achieve a positive result v Chelsea.