By Adefunmiloye Alani

1st Nov, 2021 | 6:40pm

Robbie Fowler curious to see Bielsa next move amid Leeds struggle

Leeds United are struggling to hit the heights of last season, picking up just two Premier League wins out of 10 games so far in 2021-22.

They sit precariously in 17th place in the table, with just three points separating them from the drop zone.

The Whites secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over Norwich City at the weekend, and their other victory was a 1-0 win over Watford.

Injuries have prevented Marcelo Bielsa’s side from hitting the right notes, and Robbie Fowler believes the training methods of the Argentine are starting to take a toll on the players.

The ex-Leeds centre-forward told the Sunday Mirror: “Leeds have been struggling this season, and in a way I’m not surprised. I’ve always wondered if Marcelo Bielsa’s intensity would eventually prove too much for their players, and we’d see a little bit of what people casually label as ‘burnout’.

“I don’t believe that as such, and I don’t think the Leeds players have downed tools either. But what I do think, is that a bit of fatigue sets in mentally, as much as anything.

“When training is as intense as that, day in day out for months and years, then the players will weary of it, they will question whether they can do the same thing every single day.

“It’s clear Bielsa has a shelf life at a club. If his methods start to stall, he moves on. Will Bielsa stay and change personnel, will he move on, or will he adapt his famously rigid methods? As a manager myself, I’m fascinated to see what his next move will be.”

Could El Loco move on?

The Leeds boss has never been at any club for long, and the three and a half years he has spent at Elland Road is the longest spell he has had in his managerial career.

With only one style of playing and no plan B, is it safe to say that his side has been found out?

Things could get very tough for his side heading into the second half of the campaign given the tough fixtures ahead.

The Yorkshire outfit host Leicester City next before playing Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton, Crystal Palace and Brentford.

They face Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool afterwards, and how they fare heading into 2022 will definitely have a huge say on their campaign.

Bielsa has not shown any signs of wanting to leave, and the fans and club would love to hold on to him for as long as possible.

However, the Argentine could have other ideas in the coming months.

It will be interesting to see how he tackles his side’s current woes, and a relegation battle is the last thing he wants to be involved in.

In other Leeds United news, Whites staff have been left thrilled as Bielsa funds behind-the-scenes development at Elland Road.