, Leeds United, Bielsa’s Bucket and a changing Whites’ ethos

Leeds United, Bielsa’s Bucket and a changing Whites’ ethos

To those of a ’certain age’, like myself, a sudden rush to the Internet to search ’Who is Marcelo Bielsa’ wasn’t needed.

Us informed few were safe in the knowledge of who he was and what he’d done. Others were frantically hammering on their keyboards to glean any information possible.
What they would have found out was he’d managed at two World Cups with Argentina and Chile. They might have also found out that he’d once confronted rival fans outside his house with a hand grenade – apparently.
They’d also have gained some insight into his coaching methods, his ethos as such. Combining high-energy football, a high-press mentality where closing down even not on possession is a key feature, key elements of the Bielsa style would begin to form in their minds.
When describing the type of man who Bielsa is, one word sums him up – methodical. Long before he had agreed to sign on at Elland Road, Bielsa had apparently seen all last season’s Leeds games. He’d also decided who was to stay under his stewardship and who was bound for the road.
Then there’s his bucket, first seen by the wider football public in all its glory as Leeds United swatted aside the challenge of a Stoke City side relegated last season. The high press was there. The high-energy approach was there. Leeds United chasing Stoke down whilst the Potters chased shadows was there.
Bielsa was there. Sat on his bucket, staring impassively at the game unfolding in front of him – yea he was there. He was like a general of old, watching the battle unfold before him, but instead of his glorious charger, he was sat astride a large blue bucket.
There were even Bielsa captains running along the fringes of the field of play, bellowing out his orders. That instance of Bielsa and his coaching style has even led to someone to think of writing an article questioning whether what he’s doing is within the laws of the game. I’ll not justify it further, and I’ll not be linking to it; suffice to say that it is written, and it is out there in the public domain.
The signing of Bielsa by Leeds United, after being hunted down almost by Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani, is possibly bigger than any player signed by the club this summer. Players tend to be able to alter games with moments of skill, Bielsa is more than that though.
What Leeds United have gotten in the acquisition of Bielsa and his staff is a philosophy, a philosophy delivering an ethos. Leeds United fans saw evidence of that ethos on Sunday when Bielsa, his captains and the foot soldiers on the field wiped the battlefield clean with Stoke over 90 minutes.
There’s much more to come from Bielsa and his bucket this season, a season where Leeds United fans will have to hold on and enjoy the ride.
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