ROY’S MARC OF QUALITY
Hodgson shows that reputation counts for nothing in the Premier League as classy Eagles pounce on Bielsa’s leaky defence
MARCELO BIELSA has s uffe re d two heavy defeats by an identical scoreline in the last week.
And on both occasions the winning British manager has given the same tetchy reaction to the Argentine’s loss.
After thrashing Leeds at Elland Road last Monday, L e i c e st e r b o s s Bre ndan Rodgers sarcastically said it was, “Because I ’m a British manager – I got lucky”.
And after watching his Crystal Palace side conquer El Loco’s men on Saturday, former England boss Roy Hodgson went crazy when asked if he got satisfaction from a result against the “renowned” Argentine.
He said: “Does that mean that people like myself, Pep Guardiola , Jurgen Klopp, Jose Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers are not renowned managers?
“Is it only when you play against someone who you have decided is renowned that I should be pleased with the result?
“I regard the question as i nsulti ng. It i s a match between two managers who have had a long career in the game and a lot of success.
“I t h i n k b o t h o f u s prepared our teams well for the game and as a result we produced a very good footballing spectacle.”
It i s f a i r t o s ay t hat Hodgson , 73, does not regard 65- year- old whippersnapper Bielsa ( below) as a coaching messiah.
And the last two results suggest the Argentine i s more like an emperor with no clothes – or defence ence – in a ruthless Premier League where performances es count more than reputation. on.
The former Argentina gentina and Chile coach is already lready adored by the li kes es of Guardiola and Pochethettino. And he now has as 30 more games this season to win over the non- belie vers – and make his team more re streetwise.
Leeds are great t o w a t c h b u t teams who regularly ly concede four goals s – three times now in eight Premier League matches atches – tend not to stay up for long.
Hodgson’s post- match bad mood was not helped by the conduct of Leeds director of football Victor Orta.
With the stadium without fans, the Spaniard could be heard throughout behaving l i ke Donald Trump aft er losing the election.
Bielsa looked uncomforta b l e w h e n r e f u s i n g t o disclose why he had l eft Pablo Hernandez out of his 18- man squad.
And i n the absence of Kalvin Phillips, the Leeds boss asked Stuart Dallas to man- mark Eberechi Eze.
Patrick Bamford was denied an equaliser by an offside call and Palace’s Palaces third goal took an outra ge ous d e - f l e c t i o n o f f H e l d e r Costa.
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Hodgson’s experienced side had the ability to absorb Leeds pressure and then use the pace of Wilf Zaha, Jordan
Ayew and Eze to hit back on the break.
“I think they knew our game plan well, t hey j umped and took the ball in key positions,” admitted Bamford.
And forget coachi ng g u r u s , Pal a c e have better players.
How many L e e d s starters would get into this Eagles team? Not many.
Scott Dann opened the scoring by heading home an Eze corner, before the ex- QPR playmaker curled home a freekick.
Bamford pulled one back before Patrick van Aanholt’s cross went in off Costa. But Palace could have scored more than Jordan Ayew’s 70th minute strike.
“All defeats are complicated and when there are two defeats i n a row i t i ncreases thi s,” admitted Bielsa.
“And in all games if you concede four goals and only score one, then it is going to be a hard reality.”