BEGINNING OF THE END
James: I’ve got to start being fearless again Bielsa ready to walk away in the summer as he admits: No one can stay at the top level if you can’t guarantee 100 per cent enthusiasm
DAN JAMES’ season began with a bang as Manchester United demolished opening-day visitors Leeds United 5-1.
Six months on, the Welsh flyer will be part of Marcelo Bielsa’s revenge mission today – after his £25million summer deadline day move across the Pennines helped make room for the much trumpeted return of Old Trafford’s prodigal son, Cristiano Ronaldo.
James had sensed the writing was on the wall for his United career in what proved to be his farewell game – a 1-0 victory against Wolves at Molineux on August 29.
As a Swansea City player he had been poised to join Leeds on deadline day in January 2019.
He arrived in Yorkshire for his medical only to find out that the deal had collapsed. It was a day that ended up testing the durability of his mobile phone.
James recalled: “I ended up ringing the Swansea chairman to ask him what was happening. It all got a bit crazy and I threw my phone away in frustration after I found out my move wasn’t going ahead.”
Now he’s arrived at Elland Road, he’s trying to win over those Leeds fans who have so far been largely underwhelmed by some of his performances.
But Bielsa hasn’t lost faith in the player he has wanted for three seasons – something that James can cling to in the down moments.
“I have to keep believing,” said the Wales star. “I have to remember what I have been brought here for and not be afraid to lose the ball. On occasions maybe I’ve tried to play safe. For me it’s all about running and being direct.”
After Manchester United’s visit, fixtures against Liverpool and Tottenham quickly follow.
James added: “These are games that you really look forward to. We know there’s extra pressure on us after losing to Everton last week, but we’re up for the challenge.”
MARCELO BIELSA is set to walk away from Leeds in the summer after admitting that it’s impossible to compete in the Premier League without total commitment.
Fears have grown inside Elland Road that Bielsa feels he has taken the Yorkshire club as far as he can and that he will leave once his contract expires at the end of the season.
Leeds’ search for a successor is already under way – and despite Bielsa’s stance that the time to talk about his future is in the summer, his honest admission ahead of today’s visit of Manchester United will set alarm bells ringing.
Bielsa said: “It [the future] is not a subject we should talk about at this moment.
“No one can stay at this level if they cannot guarantee 100 percent enthusiasm – that’s players or coaches.
“The competition will expose those who don’t take advantage of being at this level.”
Bielsa is in his fourth season with Leeds – his longest stay as a manager at any club during his storied coaching career.
He guided them back to the Premier League after a 16-year absence in 2020 and then managed them to an encouraging ninth-placed finish last season.
But his squad has been weakened by a succession of long-term injuries this season, particularly to striker Patrick
Bamford, England midfielder Kalvin Phillips and captain Liam Cooper.
Leeds go into the clash with bitter rivals United with just five wins in 23 league games, and have been sucked into the relegation battle.
The club’s owner Andrea Radrizzani (right) said last year that he expected Leeds to be challenging for the top six inside three seasons. But he has always known that Bielsa is not a manager who sticks around for any length of time. The former Argentina and Chile coach signed for just two years when he first arrived in 2018. Since then he has twice agreed to only one-year extensions – to give him the freedom to control his own destiny, and allow the club to plan for its own future too.
There is still no return date for Bamford. Phillips, Cooper and Leo Hjelde aren’t expected back until next month.
But Stuart Dallas should be fit to face the visit of Ralf Rangnick’s United.
It is the first time the Old Trafford club has played at Elland Road in front of fans in the Premier League since October 2003.
And Bielsa is grateful for the support that the Leeds faithful have given him during a difficult season.
He said: “The injuries don’t justify the season we’ve had. The fans always support the team unconditionally.
“It is difficult to imagine a support bigger than the one we have already received.
“But the presence of a classic opponent increases the enthusiasm.
“It is going to be precious to witness it and of course we need to think more what we can give to our public than what we can receive from them.”
Rangnick is now facing a similarly tough task to the one Bielsa embraced on his arrival in England, after the German agreed to succeed Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the end of the season.
The former Bundesliga coach has found it tough to impose his ideas on the Old Trafford squad he inherited.
And Bielsa said: “It all depends on the manager and players whether they are receptive to changes.”