Marcelo Bielsa’s work since taking over as Leeds United manager continues to be praised by everyone who is in any way involved with the club.
Michael Bridges is the latest to laud the Argentine after branding him a ‘genius’ for the way in which he has operated over the last few seasons.
As a coach himself, the former Whites forward has been mightily impressed with his methods and how he never deviates from his footballing philosophy.
Bridges spoke of his ever-growing admiration for the Leeds boss on the latest episode of the Official Leeds United Podcast.
“Everybody talks about him being a genius and that’s what he is,” he claimed. “Everybody that he has worked with or worked under speaks so highly of him.
“What I love about Bielsa is that he knows exactly what he wants to do with the ball, he knows exactly what he wants to do without the ball, he knows what he wants to do in both the transition moments.
“People talk about having a vision and a philosophy as a coach, there are a lot of coaches out there that I believe don’t have that kind of holistic approach like he has, he’s always evolving.”
While doing his media duties in Australia, Bridges witnessed the work being done by Bielsa and his fellow coaching staff first-hand when they visited Perth in the summer preceding the Championship title-winning campaign.
He admitted that he taken aback by the attention to detail shown by each of the coaches and is one of many Leeds followers extremely grateful that the great man has stayed with the club.
“I was blown away by his staff when they came over to Perth for a tour down under, I just think it’s magnificent. To think that he stuck with us in the Championship and got us out, he’s a guru.
“Give him the keys to the city!”
Perhaps the greatest sign of Bielsa’s humility is that he couldn’t be further withdrawn from the life that you would typically associate with players and managers in the modern game.
“He’s an amazing character, he’s very eccentric,” said Bridges. “When I saw him turn up to the Player of the Year do and everybody was in bow ties and then you get Bielsa come in his tracksuit.
“There aren’t many coaches in the world who can get away with that and he’s one of them! I’d love to be able to pick his brain.”
