A few Leeds United fans have been claiming what sort of messages Marcelo Bielsa sends to the players, after Liam Cooper told the Yorkshire Evening Post that the Argentine has been in frequent communication amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The club began taking measures to help combat the spread of the virus by moving the youth and women’s sides away from the Thorp Arch training facilities on March 8, and have since been forced to urge all first-team men’s players to also stay away.
Bielsa has strived to stay in constant communication with his players during these unprecedented times, though, while players also have direct access to the club’s medical staff if they wish to discuss any concerns.
It remains to be seen if the season will even resume with play currently postponed until, at least, April 30, but the boss is not allowing the enforced break in play to put another hurdle in the way of our promotion hopes.
“There’s been a lot of communication from Marcelo on the WhatsApp groups,” captain Cooper said. “His main message to the boys before we did leave was to stay safe and do what you can to stop this from increasing.
“Everyone realises the seriousness of the infection and what we’ve got to do to slow the curve down. We’ve been in contact with Rob Price and the club doctors, they’ve been unbelievable with the lads, any questions regarding symptoms or what we can do to prevent infection, they’ve been brilliant.
“We can get in touch with them directly for advice and take it from there. The communication at the club has been second to none.”
Here are some of the messages shared as fans reacted to Cooper’s claim, with a few supporters speculating what sort of messages Bielsa would send on WhatsApp…
They’d be serious emojis if there is such a thing.
— Chris Woodhead (@Woody100183) March 25, 2020
Don’t think there is a hand grenade emoji.
— Rob (@AKA_RobDockerty) March 25, 2020
I reckon he sends his own GIFs lol. This one if their body fat ratio starts moving the wrong way lol pic.twitter.com/LgBPKLAZNV
— Josey back up North 💙💛 (@jemccudden) March 25, 2020
This one if they’re training hard pic.twitter.com/8qSSCEH8bn
— Josey back up North 💙💛 (@jemccudden) March 25, 2020
Just “🏃♂️🤬” on the hour, every hour.
— Becca Richardson 💙💛 (@BeccaRi41043767) March 25, 2020
🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🤮🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🏃🏻♂️🤮🏐🏐🏐🏐🏋🏿♂️🏊♂️🏊♂️🛴
— Marcelo on Together 💙💛 (@Karendoobydoo) March 25, 2020
In other Leeds United news, the club have been dealt a setback in hopes of signing Victor Orta’s €20m target.