‘Really harsh’ – David Seaman shares what he’s heard about Marcelo Bielsa at Thorp Arch
David Seaman has heard that Marcelo Bielsa is a “really harsh taskmaster” at the Leeds United training ground but cannot argue with the impact it has had on the squad.
Before Bielsa arrived at Elland Road, Leeds were finding themselves constantly falling short of expectations in the Championship and not really getting anywhere near close to promotion.
However in his first season, the Whites came close to finishing in the top-two and secured a third-placed finish before a disappointing play-off defeat to Derby.
Now, the Yorkshire giants are top of the Championship, seven points clear of third with nine matches to play once the season gets back underway.
Seaman understands how hard Bielsa can push his players in training but cannot blame the Argentine when it is something that is clearly working.
“From what I’ve heard he’s a really harsh taskmaster on the training field,” Seaman told LeedsLive. “But if he gets the best out of the players, that’s good. As a player you don’t mind training really hard so long as it’s productive and it works out on the field and you’re getting results.”
We have all read and heard stories about Bielsa’s gruelling training sessions, especially in the summer when he pushes players to breaking point as they aim to get fit enough for the Argentine.
Bielsa very much drills his ethos into his players. If you train hard and play hard, you’ll win.
If Leeds were struggling to get results on the pitch then players may have fallen afoul of the manager’s intense training sessions but, as Seaman points out, if results are good then who are the players to bemoan it?
In other Leeds United news, this £20,000-a-week Whites star has emerged on the radar of a billionaire-owned club.