Any team that Marcelo Bielsa coaches is always expected to bounce back after a bad loss. We saw that response in the Championship for two seasons and we’ve seen it again in the Premier League during the last campaign. Indeed, the odd hammering goes hand in hand with Bielsa’s relentless attacking philosophy and Leeds fans have come to accept that. With that said, the opening day mauling Leeds were on the end of did not go down well in West Yorkshire given that it was Manchester United who ran riot at their expense.
It is the second time in nine months that Leeds have conceded five or more goals at Old Trafford but perhaps some perspective is still needed. The Red Devils are one of the league’s most expensively assembled teams and Leeds are tipped to finish mid-table in the English Premier League odds in what is only their second season back in top-flight, but it’s not inconceivable that they could go down. We only need to look at Sheffield United as an example of a team who had a great first campaign back in the top flight in 2019-20, finishing 9th, only to be relegated in their second season.
However, as initially stated, most of the up-to-date Premier League tips do not predict that Leeds will end up fighting for their Premier League status but it’s worth remembering that there are times when Bielsa’s teams do stall and are ultimately unable to switch the engines back on.
You just have to think back to December 2017 when the Lille board had seen enough and sacked Bielsa with the French team in the relegation places in Ligue 1. There was no bouncing back after Lille had gone months without a win. Yes, there were mitigating factors and Bielsa did have a strained relationship with the board at the time, but the working relationship between Lille and Bielsa was no longer salvageable. But Bielsa’s relationship with the Leeds United board is quite the opposite.
It is in fact a very good relationship but the point is that there have been times when Bielsa’s team have gone into complete free-fall. The Elland Road faithful will be praying that doesn’t happen to Leeds this season but there are slight concerns that the momentum from last season has been lost due to a rather inactive transfer market for the Whites.
Of course, the great irony is that Bielsa doesn’t want to sign players for the sake of it and if Victor Orta did bring players to Leeds that the Argentine didn’t want he would invariably quit. It really is a case of having to have complete faith in Bielsa and trust in his judgement.
Although it should be said that he hasn’t let Leeds down once since he joined the club in the summer of 2018, but it doesn’t take much for Leeds fans to begin to assume the brace position after 16 desperate years in the English Football League wilderness.
There’s no reason to begin doubting Bielsa now but it’s worth keeping in mind that he has been in charge of clubs who couldn’t buy a win for love or money. Marcelo Bielsa will be the first to tell you that all good things do come to an end at some stage, the question is: can Leeds eke out a bit more magic from the Argentine, or will the trap door to the Championship swing open on the club?
