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'Country mile' - Championship manager names Leeds as best team he's faced this season
There’s no doubt that Leeds United under Marcelo Bielsa are one of the very best teams in the Championship, arguably the best.
They have been there or thereabouts at the top of the second tier for the entirety of his time in Yorkshire.
The Argentine is a manager beloved by his peers, a figure revered by names as high profile as Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pochettino.
He’s also someone who has earned the admiration of his peers in the second tier, with many touting the virtues of his Whites team.
Millwall boss Gary Rowett, who has done a fine job in rejuvenating the Lions’ season, is the latest to add his name to the list of Bielsa-philes.
“When I was doing my punditry work [earlier this season] I said that West Brom and Leeds were the best teams in the division. I’d probably put Brentford in with that now,” he said, as per London News Online.
“Fulham, a little bit on their day as well. They are probably a little more inconsistent than the others. Those four teams would be the standout teams for me.
“Leeds have been the best side we’ve faced – by a country mile – so far. But I haven’t played West Brom yet. I’m judging it over the 17-game block that we’ve had.
“We beat Brentford at home. We beat Leeds at home, when Adam [Barrett] was caretaker manager. Our record was one of the best against the top six in the division.”
The Whites obviously had that thrilling game with Millwall last Tuesday, which they eventually won 3-2.
That was a fascinating contest, but it shouldn’t have been as close as it was, in all honesty. Bielsa’s team were by far the better side over the full 90 minutes.
The hosts had 28 shots to the visitors’ 11 at Elland Road, while they controlled possession with 69.6% compared to Millwall’s 30.4%.
So you can see why Rowett was impressed by what Leeds offered up. His team put up a decent effort, but they ultimately couldn’t stop the Yorkshire giants from claiming all three points.
It’s also understandable why he’d put Brentford up with West Brom and the Whites. The London outfit have really come on of late and are right on that duo’s coattails now.
In other Leeds United news, a sports psychotherapist has given his take on what’s going wrong with the team in front of goal.