Leeds United: Behind-the-scenes frustration over Marcelo Bielsa – Phil Hay
There was “internal frustration” at Leeds United over Marcelo Bielsa’s refusal to sign players offered to him in January, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
Writing on The Athletic website, Hay reports that after Leeds had bids rejected for Red Bull Salzburg’s Brenden Aaronson in the winter, there was a behind-the-scenes annoyance over Bielsa snubbing alternatives like Manchester United’s Donny van de Been and Tottenham’s Harry Winks.
Leeds’ failure to add in January was a head-scratcher as their midfield has been depleted for large parts of the season due to injuries at Elland Road.
And, ultimately, those injuries have played a massive role in the state of play Leeds are in right now with just four games left to play.
Whole host of errors
Let’s be real here.
While many will look at Bielsa as this figure who can do no wrong, the Argentine is someone who has to share the blame for the plight Leeds are in.
Right now, it’s looking as though we might as well have just stuck with El Loco for the final months of the season after he was sacked in February.
However, that doesn’t escape the fact that his failure to sign new players and his refusal to change a system that clearly wasn’t working have played a massive role in this situation.
Leeds’ Premier League fate is no longer in their hands.
There’s a scenario where we win all of our four remaining fixtures and still get sent back to the Championship.
Marsch, for what it’s worth, has done what he can to try and rescue Leeds’ season but ultimately, he’s inherited a squad with serious deficiencies and is also being hit with a really big bout of bad luck,
Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani are not blameless either – a relegation isn’t just on one person at all.
And we also need to look at the players too.
Have the likes of Rodrigo, Daniel James, Luke Ayling, Diego Llorente and Junior Firpo done enough this season?
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are doomed if Jeff Stelling’s latest prediction turns out to be right.