CURRIE AND Q

Leeds legend Tony: I was wrongly called a ’la player despite having 600 appearances... it would be great to play in Bielsa’s team toda

THEY are loathed by today’s Leeds players but Tony Currie says he would have loved Marcelo Bielsa’s punishing training sessions.

Bielsa is fanatical about peak fitness – his players need to be 100 percent to fit his high-intensity style.

One of his trademark training techniques is murderball: players endure a 90-minute game without stoppages, with coaches throwing a ball into play every time one goes dead. It sounds seriously punishing but former Elland Road favourite Currie, labelled a luxury player in his prime, says he would have relished such training methods.

“The way Bielsa trains them would not put me off because I was a great trainer,” the 71-year-old said.

“I loved training, every day. I sometimes got accused of being lazy, which was unfair. If I had been lazy I wouldn’t have played the 600 games that I did.”

Midfield playmaker Currie was one of the most technically-gifted players of his era. And he believes Bielsa’s emphasis on possession and attacking football would have suited him perfectly.

“It would be great to play in a team like that,” said Currie, who has chronicled his career and life in his book ‘Imperfect 10’.

“The way they play is great. They’re gung-ho, they go for it and they’re great to watch. It’s just that they’re losing more games than they’re winning. Once the season gets going properly and they get their injured players back, I think they’ll win more games than they lose. They leave themselves open because they want to go forward. They’re good to watch.”

Currie (above) joined Leeds from

Sheffield United in 1976 when the Elland Road golden era was coming to an end – and he regrets never winning anything during his spell there. Leeds reached a semi-final in each of his three seasons – once in the FA Cup and twice in the League Cup – and lost them all.

Currie, who won only 17 England caps, is still idolised by a generation of Leeds fans and it speaks volumes for his talent that he is also revered by Blades supporters because of his eight memorable years at Bramall Lane.

“I knew when I went to Leeds that

I’d be replacing Johnny Giles, but I was very confident in my own ability and had no fears,” he said.

“Billy Bremner left shortly after I arrived as Jimmy Armfield tried to rebuild the team and that was a big disappointment.

“Everyone disliked Leeds

United, especially when you played for

Sheffield United, but it was more jealousy than hate because for so long they were suc fantastic team.

“For me, they were the grea club side in the world in that 10 span between 1965 and 1975.”

Currie, who moved to QP 1979, added: “Leeds were the br maids too often.

“I’ve always regretted that bec I felt we were definitely good eno to win something.”

It’s gung-ho, they go for it and they are

great to watch

I was very confident in my ability &

had no fears