MOT View: Latest EFL update likely to have negative impact on Leeds & Bielsa
Marcelo Bielsa has done a fantastic job at Leeds United and is arguably one of the most talented managers the club has ever had.
Before the coronavirus pandemic caused the season to grind to a halt last week, Leeds were sitting top of the Championship table, seven points clear of third and on course for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Since arriving at Elland Road in the summer of 2018, Bielsa has not really made too many changes to the squad he inherited from Paul Heckingbottom, that had mainly been put together by Victor Orta and Thomas Christiansen the year before.
Only three players were signed on permanent deals in Biela’s first season with Barry Douglas, Patrick Bamford and Kiko Casilla coming in.
This season has also seen Leeds take a similar approach except that no player signed permanently by the Whites has made a first-team appearance.
Most of Leeds’ business has been done in the loan market as we’ve seen Jack Harrison signed twice on loan while Helder Costa, Eddie Nketiah, Jean-Kevin Augustin, Ben White and Illan Meslier have all been brought in on temporary deals, or either loan-to-buy deals, this season.
One of the main reasons why Bielsa has made so few changes to the squad he inherited in 2018 is because he has faith in his training methods to get players to the level they need to be at to get results on the pitch.
Bielsa’s training sessions are known to be torturous with the Guardian reporting they are “gruelling, mentally and physically, with an emphasis on one-on-one coaching” and can run from 9am until 7 or 8pm.
Leeds are, essentially, where they are now because of Bielsa and because of how well-drilled his players are and good their fitness levels are.
And that is why it was such a blow for Leeds this week when they had to send players home from Thorp Arch to isolate themselves.
The Yorkshire Evening Post has reported that players have been handed fitness equipment to use at home and must weigh in every morning to provide Bielsa’s staff with up-to-date readings.
But, ultimately, that will not replace being out at Thorp Arch, training with the squad, working on tactics, going through drills and keeping fitness levels at their absolute peak.
No one knew how long training would be off for but BBC Sport journalist Simon Stone has now relayed an update by the EFL, saying that clubs cannot hold training sessions until April 3.
It remains to be seen whether that date will change or not but with the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, there’s a chance it’ll be pushed back by the EFL at some point.
But, either way, it is bound to have a negative impact on Leeds.
No one knows when football will be back but if Bielsa does not have enough time to hold training sessions with his squad, it could lead to some irregular performances.
We will have to wait and see but this isn’t great news for United but at the end of the day, the health of everyone is the priority.
In other Leeds United news, did the Whites sell this player too soon? He’s now valued at £9million.