Jermaine Beckford reacts to Marcelo Bielsa signing new Leeds deal
Marcelo Bielsa has signed a new one-year extension at Leeds United, and the Argentine will now spend his fourth year at Elland Road.
The 66-year-old signed last week but was unable to celebrate the new contract with a win on the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, with Manchester United handing his team a 5-1 drubbing at Old Trafford.
Former Leeds star Jermaine Beckford has reacted to the new deal, insisting the defeat at the hands of the Red Devils changes nothing.
Speaking on the official Leeds United podcast, the ex-striker said: “The guy is a genius. I love him, all of him, I think he’s phenomenal. Fantastic guy, fantastic manager.
“The thing I like the most is, he doesn’t try to be something he’s not. He’s just himself. He knows what he has to do, he knows what he wants to do and how to do it. Just stringing those pieces together, and he seems to know what he’s doing.
“We can’t doubt the guy after one game and after what we’ve seen over the last three years.”
Absolutely
After bringing us back to the Premier League on his second attempt and keeping us up in style last season, no true Leeds fan should doubt Bielsa no matter what happens.
The absence of Kalvin Phillips in the starting XI against Man Utd dealt a massive blow on any chances we had, and we now have to quickly move and focus on the Everton game.
If there is one thing we learnt on Saturday, it is that the Whites need an answer to their overdependence on the England international midfielder.
Director of football Victor Orta was at Old Trafford and that defeat should have sent a clear message to him.
A midfielder capable of filling in for Phillips must be brought in as soon as possible.
Having Bielsa for one more season is massive, and the club has to reward him with the quality signings he is crying out for.
Leeds need to further strengthen this team if we want to impress again this season.
In other Leeds news, Whites close in on major transfer, fee plus add-ons mooted.