Marcelo Bielsa return mooted at Leeds United ahead of Premier League
Leeds United could bring back Marcelo Bielsa next season if they seal promotion back to the Premier League, Gabby Agbonlahor has said.
Speaking on talkSPORT (30 December, 6:55am), Agbonlahor joked that if the Whites make it back to the top flight at the second attempt this term, Bielsa could return to re-implement his man-marking system.
Having already aimed a dig Leeds’ way when looking at potential matches against Aston Villa, Agbonlahor argued that despite losing key players, United have the identity of a Premier League club.
He said: “They lost Summerville, all their very good players they’ve lost, but Leeds – teams have to deserve to get promoted – but Leeds should be in the Premier League.
“The fanbase they’ve got, the stadium, the history – and maybe Bielsa can come back and they can go man-for-man again.”
Leeds United fans beginning to dream of the highest level again
A return to Elland Road for Bielsa looks ny-on impossible – he’s never returned to manage Newell’s Old Boys despite their stadium being named after him – regardless of the elation it would cause in Leeds.
However, given their only goal this season is to win promotion to the Premier League, the Whites statistically couldn’t have a better manager for the job in the form of Daniel Farke.
With two promotions under his belt already with Norwich in 2019 and 2021, Farke enters 2025 on course for a third, with United two points clear at the top of the Championship as the year draws to a close.
Having won 51 points from their first 24 games of the campaign, the Peacocks are on track to win 97.75 points by the end of 3 May’s trip to Plymouth on the final day, which rounded down still gives them 97.
That’s four points more than Bielsa managed as his side romped to the 2019/20 title, and despite there being plenty of twists and turns ahead, the foundations are in place for a timely Premier League return.
In other Leeds news, one of United’s transfer targets is growing frustrated at his club and could push for an exit in January.
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