ELLAND ROAD — Love them or hate them, you simply cannot ignore Leeds United.
Not after this season, their highest league position for 19 years; not with this much energy and drive coursing through the club on every level.
For so long English football’s sleeping giants, Leeds have been spectacularly awoken from their slumber by Marcelo Bielsa.
He returned the club to the Premier League after a 16-year absence last season and can now reflect on a ninth-placed finish.
“The evolution of the team has been very big,” said Bielsa after Sunday’s 3-1 home win over West Brom at an emotionally fraught Elland Road.
“On one side I am very satisfied with what the team achieved, but on the other I feel like we could have added a few more points.”
The likes of Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas and Patrick Bamford were Championship players until Bielsa convinced them they could perform at the highest level.
Bamford breached Premier League defences 17 times this season while Phillips has become an England regular, although a shoulder injury sustained late on against West Brom caused concern with the Euros looming. Illan Meslier has emerged as the division’s most promising young goalkeeper while Pascal Struijk has impressed at centre-half.
Jack Harrison, on loan from Manchester City, has shone brightly on Leeds’ left flank.
Bielsa improves players but recruitment has proved shrewd. Brazilian winger Raphinha was a snip at £17million while Spain internationals Rodrigo and Diego Llorente should get even better next season.
Credit to Bielsa, of course. He has changed the culture of the club and dragged everyone behind him. But Leeds’ renaissance goes deeper than the alchemy of the 65-year-old Argentinian. Do not underestimate the impact of owner Andrea Radrizzani in transforming the fortunes of a football club and the spirits of a city.
He showed daring and ambition to bring Bielsa to Elland Road three years ago. When Leeds went up as Championship title winners last summer, Radrizzani backed Bielsa to the tune of £100million. Do not overlook that either.
Radrizzani, an Italian entrepreneur who made his money selling media rights, has harnessed the potential of a club with a global fanbase and, with Bielsa, put Leeds well and truly back on the map.
The San Francisco 49ers increased their stake in Leeds from 15 per cent to 37 per cent in January and Radrizzani appointed Paraag Marathe as vice-chairman of the club.
Further investment in the squad is expected this summer as Leeds bid to kick on and challenge for European qualification.
The club’s under-23s recently won their league and the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood are tipped to break into the first-team next season. Most importantly, confirmation that Bielsa is staying for a fourth season is expected this week.
The atmosphere, predictably, was raucous for Leeds’ first game in front of fans for 14 months.
You had to go back to May 2004 for when they last played a Premier League match at Elland Road with a crowd inside.
There were just over 8,000 in attendance here but it felt like many more.
Leeds bade an emotional farewell to departing legends Pablo Hernandez and Gaetano Berardi, who were both substituted with 20 minutes remaining to a huge ovation.
Leeds were 2-0 up at that point after Rodrigo and Phillips struck first-half goals while Bamford added a penalty before Albion substitute Hal Robson-Kanu’s late consolation.
Phillips’s injury threatened to overshadow a memorable afternoon but Leeds, united, are finally back where they belong.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/2QK3afI
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