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Danny Bloomer

'Sign of a top coach' - Jonathan Woodgate makes big claim on Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa

Former Leeds United defender Jonathan Woodgate has hailed Marcelo Bielsa’s ability to improve players.

Bielsa has transformed the careers of several members of the Leeds squad since his arrival in the summer of 2018, guiding the Whites from mid-table in the Championship, to the Premier League.

The likes of Luke Ayling, Stuart Dallas and Liam Cooper have all benefited from the coaching of Bielsa, but it is Kalvin Phillips who has enjoyed arguably the most success.

The Argentine has transformed Phillips from a decent Championship midfielder into one of the first names on the England team sheet.

And those achievements are what Woodgate believes makes Bielsa one of the best in the business.

Via quotes from the Sunday Mirror, he said: "It's a sign of a top coach when you improve players.

"Kalvin's worth at least £50million now and is an England regular.

“These were players who weren't going anywhere in the Championship - but Bielsa has transformed them."

However, Woodgate is unsure how much longer Bielsa will be at Elland Road as he approaches the final straight of his fourth season in charge.

Bielsa has never been at a club longer than he has at Leeds, with the 66-year-old having taken charge of 165 matches during his time in West Yorkshire.

But as is customary with Bielsa, he never commits to a contract longer than one year and Woodgate has admitted he is unsure whether he will continue at the club beyond this season.

And Woodgate added: "I can't read Marcelo Bielsa - you just don't know what he's going to do."

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