Marcelo Bielsa’s time at Leeds United is one the fans will fondly remember. The Whites returned to the Premier League for the first time in decades under the Argentine boss.
His time in West Yorkshire was a rollercoaster for the fans, but one thing was clear – he made the club feel like a family again.
From his press conferences to being seen in the city on random days, fans became really close to Bielsa. Unfortunately, his time at the club was cut short as he was sacked in the 2021/22 season.
With Leeds on a decline and nearing the relegation zone, the club felt they had no choice but to make drastic changes.
Jesse Marsch replaced the Argentine, and guided the Whites to safety in the final weeks of the season.
Andrea Radrizzani makes new confession over Marcelo Bielsa
Bielsa’s exit is one Leeds United fans have never fully gotten over, with most blaming Andrea Radrizzani for making a poor decision.
In Monday’s paper edition of Gazello dello Sport, Radrizzani was interview about Marcelo Bielsa ahead of Uruguay’s World Cup opener against Saudi Arabia.
In the interview, the former Leeds owner revealed that he was given an ultimatum by the Argentine before the sacking.
”That summer Marcelo said to me “the players aren’t sustaining my stress anymore, either we change all of them or you change me”.
”I sacked him in February and I have regretted it, because for Leeds fans Bielsa was worth more than a place in the Premier League.” quotes translated by journalist Andrea Russo on X.
READ MORE: Leeds United star confirms emotional Elland Road exit in heartfelt statement
Leeds United fans will be frustrated
It has taken years for Radrizzani to come to this realization, something Leeds United fans were furious about back in 2022.
Bielsa’s sacking came as a bit of a surprise as the team were not in the relegation zone at that point of the season. And the former owner is right about regretting the decision.
Sticking with the Argentine coach would have been a much better decision than what went on at Elland Road up until 2023.
The club sacked three more coaches, and spent over £100 million on a bunch of failed transfers only to get relegated that season. It is only with the arrival of Daniel Farke that the club has seen some stability.
Now that the club have learnt their lesson, this incident should never repeat itself.
Biesla needed sacking
That wasn’t the problem
It were really poor managers that followed