Marcelo Bielsa had big expectations of Bristol City's new signing Sam Greenwood

Marcelo Bielsa was hoping that Sam Greenwood could be the future of his Leeds United side.

The Argentinian managed the Elland Road side between 2018 and 2022, with his passion and energy endearing him to the fanbase.

The 24-year-old was signed in August 2020 from Arsenal's youth academy for a fee believed to be £1.5million.

Greenwood ended up making 35 appearances for Leeds, with one goal and five assists in that time.

He would depart in August 2025, more than three-years after Bielsa's exit from the LS11 side.

He signed for Pogon Szczecin in Poland in a deal worth around £3.5m but has now returned to England with Bristol City.

What Marcelo Bielsa said about Sam Greenwood's potential

Bielsa had high expectations for the Thorp Arch talent, and did not throw him under the bus after the 3-0 FA Cup defeat to Crawley.

Instead, the manager suggested that Greenwood could play more often for the first-team, alongside two other academy players, Jack Jenkins and Oliver Casey.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of a Premier League clash with Brighton in January 2021, he said: "With respect to the young players, Olly Casey, Jenkins and Greenwood, they are in the under-23 team and have been growing and shining.

"They are players who can be submitted to some bigger challenges than the under-23 games. There was a lot of expectations that these players can have minutes... because they have been playing well to deserve minutes.

"I think that the three young lads, Jenkins, Casey and Greenwood, they had to play the most difficult minutes. I can't hold any player as responsible for the defeat, especially not the younger ones or the unbalance that was in the game."

How Greenwood responded to Bielsa's faith

Greenwood had to wait a while after Bielsa handed him the opportunity against the League Two side.

His next senior appearance would come against Arsenal, his former side, in the Carabao Cup in October 2021.

His league debut also came against the Gunners in December 2021, and he scored his only goal for the Whites the following season in a 4-3 win over Bournemouth.

He joined Middlesbrough on loan for the 2023-24 campaign and also spent the 2024–2025 season at Preston in a temporary switch.

Then, his permanent exit was sanctioned, as he was not going to get the first-team football that he wanted with the Whites.

What did Greenwood say about his time under Bielsa?

The new Ashton Gate man admitted that it was difficult to adapt to his methods, and revealed the mental strength that was needed.

In quotes reported by Teesside Live in 2023, he said: "It was really tough. I would say he's a genius at what he does.

"Without having a really close relationship with the players, he keeps his distance and his knowledge is unbelievable.

"The intensity of training is so high. You have to be so mentally strong to be able to get through every day."

He was willing to put in the work and learn what was necessary, and he did appear sporadically under the 70-year-old, but ultimately he would suffer the same fate as his former boss.

He will hope to take his learnings from Bielsa, and apply it at his new club, and hopefully, he can succeed.