It’s not hard to tell when Marcelo Bielsa’s not happy, is it? His interview on Sky Sports was cut short after he tried to ask the interviewer if he thought Leeds deserved to win. Indeed, it showed the pressure of being the Whites’ manager is finally getting to him.
We all know he’s quite the character and has the capabilities to fly off the handle every now and again, but his awkwardness in the interview only reflected badly on himself. Some may claim it as a victory over ‘the media’, but the interview was anything but that. It was almost a breakdown.
Leeds are used to falling apart at this stage of the season, and it seems like the pressure from the fans gets too much for the manager and the players. This campaign seemed different though, up until Saturday. The poor second half can happen, but the manager’s reaction signifies a bigger problem.
If he can’t hold it together in an interview, what’s he like in the dressing room and on the training pitch? Of course, Sir Alex Ferguson was famous for his prickly interviews but also his incredible success, so it could only be a post-match blip, but it’s worrying nonetheless.
The interview mirrored many of Jose Mourinho’s before his United sacking. Not that Bielsa will be sacked anytime soon, but it reeked of a man not in control and buried underneath pressure.
If the manager’s feeling it, the players will too.
They now sit third in the Championship, five points behind Norwich and one point behind Sheffield United, so the club are far from resigned to the play-offs. However, there’s worrying signs appearing and Leeds need to come back from the international break with a clear head if they’re going to secure automatic promotion.
Leeds fans, what did you make of Marcelo Bielsa’s post-match interview? join the discussion by commenting below…
