‘I’m with the 80%’ – Phil Hay states whether Leeds squad would get relegated from PL in 20/21
Phil Hay believes that Marcelo Bielsa will keep the current Leeds United squad largely intact if they get promoted to the Premier League.
He also thinks that they would be good enough to stay up with “minor and sensible tweaks”.
Hay was writing after the results of an extensive survey conducted with Leeds fans, the results of which were published on the Athletic website.
80.4% of fans (from over 2,100 who responded) said that only minor changes would be needed, with almost 19% saying that substantial changes would be required.
“Does anyone think Bielsa would move to gut this squad in the event of promotion?” Hay said.
“If you know anything about him or have followed him closely at Leeds, you’ll realise that a large number of his existing players will be given a go in the Premier League if Leeds do go up. And considering the way they’ve developed under him, many of them have scope to improve and adapt again.
“I’m with the 80 per cent here: with minor and sensible tweaks to the dressing room, I could see Bielsa keeping them up next season.
“And I’m inclined to think that if Chris Wilder can make Sheffield United as competitive as he has, Bielsa can do the same.
“As it is, we won’t know for sure until Leeds get there — and perhaps the 19 per cent who believe substantial business is necessary would be proved correct.”
Bielsa might cost a lot in wages – his pay and that of his backroom staff helped bump the Elland Road wage bill up to £46m in the 18/19 season – but in every other respect he’s a dream for Radrizzani.
Bielsa didn’t demand a huge transfer budget and is unlikely to add many more players than Jean-Kevin Augustin, Jack Harrison, Illan Meslier, Helder Costa and hopefully Ben White in the summer.
If he can transform a squad that finished 13th in the Championship in the 17/18 season, into an established Premier League side by 20/21, Bielsa deserves to go down in the record books as one of the best managers of all time. He’s already a legend at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, ‘More like £60m’ – Phil Hay claims Leeds will make record-breaking 19/20 announcement