Ray Parlour applauds Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds fanbase in recent talkSPORT appearance
Leeds United have been brilliant this season says Ray Parlour, and the pundit cannot wait to see what the Whites offer next season.
The talkSPORT pundit suggests he never doubted Leeds’ ability to cope with the rigours of top-flight football, and he applauded both Marcelo Bielsa and his players.
However, he stopped short of naming Bielsa as his manager of the year, opting for Pep Guardiola instead.
On talkSPORT Breakfast on Friday, Alan Brazil asked, “Who is your team of the year would it be Leeds?”
Without hesitation, Parlour answered, “Leeds have been brilliant.
“I think any team that came up, I never had any doubt whatsoever that of the teams that came up Leeds would have a problem or be in a relegation battle.
“Bielsa’s just shown that he is a top manager, gets results, the players have really responded to him, they’ve got good players in their team.
“I can’t wait for next season with Leeds because all the fans will be back at Elland Road and that is a great stadium, when that’s rocking that is one of the best stadiums to play at.”
Brazil then posed the big question, “Bielsa, manager of the year?”
“It’s hard really because if Man City win the Champions League they’ve won the treble,” replied Parlour.
Manager of the year?
There is no doubting that Pep Guardiola has created a brilliant team at Manchester City but he has also had untold millions to spend.
His side also have not improved drastically over the course of the year, unlike Leeds or West Ham.
Both Bielsa and David Moyes have transformed their sides into teams that are capable of challenging for Europe – that is some achievement.
Leeds have come very close to a top-seven finish this season despite a 16-year absence from the Premier League – not many other teams have managed such an impressive comeback.
Bielsa has managed it with a mostly Championship squad too, with major signings like Diego Llorente, Robin Koch and even Rodrigo missing for large spells.
He has achieved big results and in an entertaining manner, the same cannot really be said of Moyes.
The Argentine has shown an ability to adapt to the top-flight and improve Leeds’ weaknesses, such as our openness at the back.
These reasons mean Bielsa deserves to be named as the manager of the year.
In other Leeds United news, a Transfer Insider believes Leeds could set sights on a “sensational Premier League 24-year-old whose future is in doubt.