Bielsa had me picking up the garbage.. now I’ll prove I’m too good to be thrown out with the trash
Liam’s out to take Leeds role
LIAM McCARRON got up close and personal with Leeds’ promotion heroes – when Marcelo Bielsa had them all on bin bag duty around the training ground.
Now the winger plans to use the lessons learned from El Loco to clean up for club and country.
McCarron has been promoted from Scotland Under-19s to the U-21s after United sealed their step up to the Premier League.
Lithuania loom in Vilnius tomorrow afternoon as Scot Gemmill’s side, sitting fourth in Group 4, bid to chase down a spot at next year’s Euros.
The 19-year-old is an integral part of the Whites’ Under-23 squad but has already witnessed iconic Argentine boss Bielsa at his unique best.
McCarron, who arrived at Elland Road last summer from Carlisle, said: “The first week I came we were walking around the training ground with bin bags picking up litter.
“It was just to show a bit of respect to all the people who work in and around the training ground.
“We went out picking up for about an hour. It was a bit of a culture shock for everyone because even the first-team squad were involved, not just the 18s and Under-23 players.
“I have learned a lot from him in terms of football. He lets you know how to go about it physically and mentally.
“The way he goes about his football is non-stop. I don’t think he leaves the training ground until 9pm at night – and that is from 7am in the morning.
“He is always watching videos of training even when he is not out there. He watches to see how everybody is doing and getting on.”
The teenager has already seen Leeds spend big this summer fresh from ending their 16-year Premier League absence.
Rodrigo headlines the newcomers after arriving from Valencia but McCarron is more than happy to bide his time.
He said: “It is going to be tougher to get on the pitch because they will be buying players who are going to be ready for the Premier League. I am just concentrating on the
Under-23s. I will give it another half or a season and we will see where I am at after that.
“I will see what happens, if I am not in and around it.
“Since I have joined it has been tough and a lot different to what I had been used to at Carlisle, with the way we train and go about things.
“Since we got into the Premier League it has been brilliant with the celebrations and everything has been really good.
“Leeds should have been up there a while ago but they just missed out last season. It was non-stop celebrations for two weeks after we won promotion. We were in training at 9am but didn’t start until 11am because everybody was jumping around.”
McCarron may be one of five players called up to Gemmill’s squad for the first time but he hasn’t had to look far for advice, with Scotland stalwart Liam Cooper alongside him at Leeds.
The wideman, Preston-born but whose dad’s family are from Dundee, said: “I spoke to Liam about it. He told me when you go into international football it is so different.
“He gave me a bit of advice on how to go about things on and off the pitch. Liam is the captain for the season and one of the most important players.
“When he is away with Scotland he will want to be involved in every game.
“It is important to get three points. We need the three points and it would set us up nicely.”