Leeds United are preparing to challenge fellow-promotion hopefuls Bristol City in what the Robins may feel is a grudge match, but Lee Johnson has taken his pre-match press conference to share nothing but admiration for Marcelo Bielsa, according to quotes published by the Bristol Post.
Viewing the clash as a grudge encounter would not be too far from the realms of possibility for our hosts at the weekend, as their owner Steve Lansdown had called for the Whites to be dished a points deduction after our Argentine boss sent scouts to oversee training sessions at the BCFC Training Ground earlier in the season.
Our manager’s unique methods to ensure the job is done to the best of his abilities threw his style into the spotlight and the bulb refuses to diminish as time passes.
Johnson, though, feels the time has come and gone for the Bielsa-bashing to stop and has sought to share a more positive portrayal of his Elland Road counterpart before welcoming the Whites to Ashton Gate.
“It’s interesting listening to all the little stories that you get; I listened to the podcast by Guillem Balague [who spent four days following Bielsa and interviewing staff and players] the other day,” Johnson said.
“Some of it [match preparation], we all do, but some of it is unique to any individual coach or manager and undoubtedly better managers bring that extra bit of quality of bit of sass and I think he’s done that.
“I have a huge amount of respect for him, and his reputation precedes him. I think it shows what a fantastic league this is that the likes of me, a 37-year-old head coach with a good club that’s in sixth position going up against an internationally-renowned manager [like Bielsa].
“You see a lot of foreign managers come into the Championship and struggle because they’ve been used to coaching in lower tempo leagues, and that’s where I think Bielsa should get the most credit.
“He’s brought a high-intensity game to Leeds and clearly improved them as individuals and as a team.”