With a comfortable opening day victory over promotion tipped Stoke City and far more confidence in the club with transfer dealings finally kicking into gear this last week, it seems manager Marcelo Bielsa is a man who can do no wrong at this moment in time.
With the squad preparing for the away trip to Pride Park tomorrow to face Frank Lampard’s Derby County, with renewed optimism at both clubs the game could be a cracker.
BPF says Bielsa is making the players watch videos of clubs like Man City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich to study the way they play, and pass and move. #lufc
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) August 9, 2018
With the obligatory pre-game press conference conducted by goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell as build up to the game continues, the stopper revealed to the media that Bielsa had been making the players watch videos of the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich so they could study their play and the way they pass and move the ball around in different parts of the pitch as that’s what he wants the group to start pivoting to in their own play.
The Tweet from Yorkshire Evening Post journo Phil Hay certainly set tongues wagging on social media.
Can you imagine the esteem and confidence he must be instilling in the players too as a result.
— Stephen Lewis (@vegansmithsfan) August 9, 2018
I am spellbound listening to his press conferences. They are insights into a genuine footballing genius. With all my heart I hope he makes us into the best team in this league and he takes us up automatically (we can dream).
— Stephen Lewis (@vegansmithsfan) August 9, 2018
Leedsalona. Lovely stuff.
— Brandon Yates (@BielsasEnganche) August 9, 2018
Good idea…. I binge watched the John Holmes box set and it improved my performance by at least 30%
— LeedsOnTour™ (@LeedsOnTour) August 9, 2018
That's nothing. Last season Paul Heckingbottom had the boys sit down and watch Brazil!
Pity it was the 2014 World Cup Semi Final.
— Stephen Greenslade (@DeedaLUFC) August 9, 2018
Bielsa is fantastic. He won’t allow back-chat to refs & no diving. He’s a teacher. He’s a leader. He’s got a vision & a route plan. Really solid & good for the club. #lufc
— WotzThatSound (@WotzThatSound) August 9, 2018
Is it just me or should every single football club in the world be doing this as standard?
— Jezaldinho (@Jezaldinho) August 9, 2018
There were plenty more words of support for what is such a simple act really. With the technology available to clubs now in the game, rather than just going through your own video and coaches talking about what a player could do differently and so on, picking out a similar example to really see it in action can only help a players’ development I would think.
Plenty are excited about where we might be in six months under his charge.