Earlier this season, former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor criticised Leeds United but has since changed his mind about Marcelo Bielsa’s team.
The striker who scored 74 goals in 322 Premier League appearances described Leeds United as a “myth” earlier this campaign. He did so whilst criticising Marcelo Bielsa believing the amount of running his team does and their approach to the game to be something people spend too much praising.
In short, he believed Bielsa’s boys were being overhyped for just running a lot and didn’t see why they were considered one of the most exciting teams to watch.
However, he has now made a U-turn on those comments applauding Leeds United. This came after he had seen his former side put Leeds to the sword garnering their 11th clean sheet in 12 wins this season.
When asked which side was more likely to qualify for the Europa League, Agbonlahor told Stadium Astro, “That’s a hard a question, I feel they can both go very far.”
He then singled out Leeds for praise in a radically switch from the way he saw them earlier this season: “Leeds are going to get some investment, I hear. With a few more better players in that team, Bielsa can definitely take them into Europe.”
This is a massive shift from the way the former Villa man saw Leeds and Bielsa earlier this season now firmly believing the Argentinian can take Leeds back to European football – a domain of football they might feel like they have unfinished business with after their exploits in the early 2000s.
He also noted that Villa are in the same boat and could soon force their way into European football themselves: “They’re not far off breaking into the top six, they have a chance this season. It might be difficult but they have the hunger and the owners who want that. Both managers can take both teams into Europe.”
