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Former Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips waxes lyrical over Marcelo Bielsa
Kalvin Phillips has been gushing over former Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa, claiming stories of the Argentine were met with incredulity on international duty with England.
Phillips features on Amazon Prime’s newest football documentary ‘Academy Dreams: Leeds United’ which follows the teenage talents fighting for a spot in the first team.
Phillips is filmed playing pool with then-teammate Charlie Cresswell and the duo discuss what life as a footballer is like under Bielsa, who was still their coach at the time of the documentary.
“Even the lads at City, who have got one of the other best managers in the world in Pep Guardiola, who I think he said that he idolises Marcelo, they ask what he’s like,” Phillips says on Academy Dreams. “I tell them some of the stories and they can’t quite believe it.
“It is weird when you hear about other managers and what they’re like and how different it is there. The way that our manager works is working for us, I can’t really complain.
“The manager is the best manager I’ve had, he’s the best manager for the young kids that want to grow in football and take the step that they need to take. It is very demanding but you have to be confident in yourself, believe in yourself and you’ve got to listen to what the manager says really.”
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Dull-witted start.
Phillips has had a less than convincing start to life at the Etihad Stadium since leaving Leeds in the summer in a blockbuster move to Manchester City
He became Pep Guardiola’s third summer-signing leaving the Whites after making 235 appearances over eight seasons for the club; a proper servant.
Nevertheless, Phillips still had two years left on his deal and it’s an aching thought to think about what might have been for him in Jesse Marsch’s side this season.
Leeds were desperate to keep their homegrown talent but even club chief Victor Orta admitted they were “powerless” in keeping their main man at Elland Road.
When a juggernaut like City comes calling, it’s hard to blame Phillips for wanting to try something new, the allure of shiny silverware can be far too appealing.
Although, the grass isn’t always greener and maybe just maybe the midfielder is starting to think that now.
In other Leeds United news, reports suggest the club are interested in signing Frankfurt star Daichi Kamada