A few Leeds United fans have joked that Marcelo Bielsa was responsible for Middlesbrough boss Jonathan Woodgate being named as the Championship’s Manager of the Month for December.
Bielsa was in the running for the accolade following his success in November, having orchestrated a never-say-die performance at Birmingham City to take the lead four times and end a run of three games without a win.
Eleven points from a possible 18 was also enough for the club to sit top of the table on goal difference to title-rivals West Bromwich Albion at the end of 2019, but was seemingly not enough for Bielsa to eclipse Woodgate.
Boro had a stellar December as they moved up from 19th place to 16th, having taken a division-high 13 points with four wins and a draw from six matches.
Woodgate has also been lauded for the influx of young talents to his side at the Riverside Stadium, which were able to beat West Brom 2-0 at the Hawthorns and do us a huge favour in the automatic promotion race.
Who deserved the MOTM award more?
Bielsa
Woodgate
The former Boro defender saw his side begin to turn things around after a poor start to the season around the time of their trip to Elland Road on November 30, as while they lost to the Whites, they went on to begin their superb December a week later.
Woodgate clinched December’s Championship Manager of the Month award over Reading’s Mark Bowen and Gary Rowett, as well as Bielsa.
Here are some of the messages shared as Leeds fans reacted to Woodgate’s success…
Until Marcelo had a word with him lol
— jayjay82 (@jwh1982) January 10, 2020
He obviously listened to the tips from marcelo after the game 👀👍
— @dri@no (@Picanuzo) January 10, 2020
That little chat Bielsa had with him clearly did the trick eh Phil x
— VikkiJaneFirth (@VikkiJaneFirth) January 10, 2020
Bielsa showed him how to do things afterwards… Like Bielsa likes to do
— Gjanni AliHosty (@TestHostyrone) January 10, 2020
bielsas little word in his ear at full time has worked wonders
— chris wilson (@willowlufc) January 10, 2020
Bielsa had words at FT
— Rich Hird (@richvalhird) January 10, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club plan to bring a youth international to Thorp Arch next week ahead of a potential transfer.