Bielsa great value

THE Premier League should be celebrating Leeds United’s return to the top flight.

The Yorkshire club will bring passion, tradition, history, talent, genuine rivalry and a unique manager in Marcelo Bielsa back to the top table of English football.

Sixteen long years of pain and tears have passed since Leeds were last rubbing shoulders with the great and good of the game.

Hard to believe it has been that long, isn’t it?

Their promotion as champions from the Championship is well deserved and also a fitting tribute to three club legends who have sadly died in 2020 – the great Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton and Trevor Cherry.

No doubt the trio will be looking down on Elland Road and smiling at the success of Bielsa, who

emerged from a terrace house on Friday night to greet fans who had gathered outside to celebrate.

Bielsa is different. He sits on a bucket during games. He walks to training sometimes. He spies on rival teams’ training sessions. He refuses to wear a shirt and tie.

One thing he will never have to do again, though, is buy a beer while in Leeds – but for the Argentine the biggest challenge of his career really has only just begun.

There’s no point in spending almost two decades getting to the top of the mountain only to fall back down again, so Bielsa has to invest in strengthening his side and work out plans to take points from the best in the business.

Who knows what will happen, but one thing is for certain – it will be fascinating.