Marcelo Bielsa has the Elland Road faithful reacting online, after issuing a public warning to his squad that this year may be their only chance to become Premier League footballers with United, as per quotes published by the Yorkshire Evening News.
The boss has been discussing their talents ahead of our crunch encounter with Aston Villa on Sunday, when nothing but a win will keep us in a position to move up to the top-flight via the automatic places.
Becoming the eleventh straight side to fall victim to the Birmingham-based outfit, on the other hand, would confirm our destiny to be a Play-Off contending side in 2019, and one that could face the Villans again but at Wembley.
No one can say for sure how that could impact the players’ mindset, but Bielsa has sought to see the first-team refocus their efforts after losing to Brentford.
It is very much a warning shot to the players, and a worrying one, as our head coach has shared that he doubts those who put on our kit each week will be able to compete at this level again next year.
“The game that decided our fate was the game we lost at home to Wigan,” Bielsa said. “In that game, we had 15 chances to score, and we had more than 70 per cent of possession, so the final result was a decision of God, not mine. But I know that what I’m saying, people will repeat sarcastically.
“Remember what I say now because you’ll be able to verify it. You won’t find a single player in our team who would be able to reproduce the same level of performance in another season because we’ve been very demanding with them.
“They’ve given everything, and they have figures I’m checking all the time which show what I’m saying is true. The players won’t be able to reproduce the levels they have shown in another season.”
Another possible take on the boss’ words could be that he is putting a message out there to Victor Orta and Andrea Radrizzani, that he will need backing in the summer to keep the club where we are, let alone moving on to the next level.
When the YEP shared Bielsa’s comments on Twitter, this is how some of the Whites fanbase reacted…
He’s absolutely right, im taking it as “ill stay, if you bring in more quality”
— Gregg Irwin (@greggleeds) April 26, 2019
Hopefully hes digging them out a bit and they will want to prove him wrong on Sunday. Worked for Wilder. Could have done with it a bit more this season I believe
— Dan Dewsnap (@LWOSDanDewsnap) April 26, 2019
A message to the players to take this chance now.????
— johnnydeeLUFC (@onlyplace4us) April 26, 2019
Did he know this in January you think Phil?
— Leo ???????????????????????????????????? (@DirtyLeedsLeo) April 26, 2019
A call for financial backing in the summer if we don’t go up then? I really fear we might lose him if we don’t go up AND he doesn’t get the money this summer that he needs to build a squad capable of taking us to the next level.
— Anthony Lewis (@tonylewis92) April 26, 2019
Is this a hint for backing in the summer or he’s off?
— Andy (@andy_mc1984) April 26, 2019
He knows this squad needs a couple more top quality attackers, poke in the eye to Radz. Bielsa’s opinion is gold.
— PJH LUFC (@pistol1603) April 26, 2019
It may also be an admission that Leeds may not hold onto some players. I can’t imagine teams are not looking at the likes of Jansson, Cooper, and for me the highly prized player, Phillips.
— Mat Thomas (@EmptyUK) April 26, 2019
Needs financial backing in the summer. This same squad will finish around 6th/7th next year
— Jesus (@TRMT1919) April 26, 2019
Spot on from Bielsa, also highlights the rebuilding job needed if we do somehow manage promotion #lufc
— markcally (@markcally8) April 26, 2019
Unfortunately I can’t see Radz stumping up enough money for a whole new team.
Failing to spend on decent strikers & a defence in the Summer & January is what’s let Bielsa down this year.
Only hope is that he sells to someone with the Cash & willing to spend.
— The Right Dishonourable Sir Andrew Rawling (@andrew_rawling) April 26, 2019