Concern for Bielsa future at Leeds United after Jim White shares what Radrizzani said
Simon Jordan is unsure whether Marcelo Bielsa fits Andrea Radrizzani’s long-term plans for Leeds United.
Speaking on talkSPORT on 20 January [11:42am], Jim White told Jordan about Radrizzani’s aim to have Leeds become a top-six side next season [Daily Mail].
It’s a lofty goal for the Italian businessman, who’s expected to pass over his majority ownership of the Yorkshire club to the San Francisco 49ers in the next couple of years.
Bielsa has played a major role in Leeds returning to the Premier League and their impressive performances since but Jordan doesn’t feel as though he can take them much further.
White asked Jordan: “Are Leeds and Bielsa still a match made in heaven?”
The former Crystal Palace owner replied, saying: “I don’t know.
“Yes, currently they are.
“I don’t know if they’re a match made in heaven if they want to get into the top six. I don’t know.
“I think Bielsa is a fascinating character with a fascinating philosophy but can you really play the brand of football he plays with the added intention of getting inside the top six? Because, somewhere along the line, you’re going to have to be able to outplay the top-six sides to be there.
“I don’t know if he can. Well, he can. I don’t know if they can.”
Has Bielsa run out of steam?
Whenever anyone talks about Bielsa, they always refer to his style of play.
There’s this notion that Bielsa is reckless with the way he sends his players out to attack, attack, attack, without much in the way of thought of defending.
But is that really true?
Yes, we’ve been on the end of a couple of batterings in the Premier League – but we’re still a recently-promoted team with a squad full of players who were here in the Championship.
Bielsa is slowly building this team up and up to become one that is capable of finishing higher in the Premier League.
Last season, our ninth-placed finish was remarkable and that may have given some people a false view of how good this squad actually is.
With the greatest respect to players like Luke Ayling, Adam Forshaw, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford – are they top-six Premier League players?
In other Leeds United news, Leeds have been told to pay over £6million to sign a “terrific” player who’s been tipped to move on.