Stan Collymore has delivered his unflinching assessment of Marcelo Bielsa’s time as Leeds United head coach in the aftermath of his departure.
The Argentine was relieved of his duties following three-and-a-half years in charge with the Whites in increasing danger of relegation from the Premier League.
It is a decision that has been widely questioned by large parts of the Leeds fanbase with many of the belief that he would have been able to keep the club in the top flight.
His replacement, Jesse Marsch, has already met with the players and staff at Thorp Arch after he was appointed on a contract which will run until June 2025.
Following both announcements, Collymore has had his say in his column with in his Mirror Football column.
“Football has given us countless 'He's the greatest ever' statements over the years from those who were arguably the greatest of their eras,” said the former Liverpool forward.
“George Best dined out on Pele saying it about him and Paul Scholes was bumped up a few places in the eyes of many when Zinedine Zidane said he was his favourite player.
“That's what has happened with Marcelo Bielsa as well after Pep Guardiola's claims of him being a genius.
“And, following Bielsa's sacking by Leeds, I can't resist reminding those of you who had him down as the Second Coming because he won promotion to the Premier League then took them to ninth place that I've been saying for some time now that he isn't.”
Collymore has long been one of the pundits who has aimed criticism at Bielsa, largely for the defensive instability that comes with the intense, high-pressing style.
Those instabilities have been particularly exposed this season largely as a result of the relentless injuries suffered by Leeds players.
Collymore found it hard to believe that a coach as highly regarded as Bielsa was struggling to rectify the problems in the Whites backline.
“It has been obvious that Bielsa was the only one who couldn't see the flaws, or at least work them out, in his system,” he added. “And, by the way, Sean Dyche took Burnley up with a smaller budget, and has kept them there, yet I've never heard the same said about him.
“Now Jesse Marsch will inherit a group of players who he will have to teach from scratch how to defend.
“He will also have to breathe confidence into them and add flexibility to their play. Elland Road fans will tell you a return to the Promised Land and the excitement was worth it with Bielsa.
“But I say for a quarter of his salary they could have had a manager who'd have got them promoted with a balanced, flexible squad and team, and they'd have been much better set up to consolidate their position in the Premier League.”
As mentioned, Collymore isn’t the only pundit who has questioned Bielsa’s methods during Leeds’ time in the Premier League.
Football fans in England have become used to watching recently-promoted teams park all of their outfield players behind the ball and the former Leeds head coach brought a fresh approach to tackling the rigours of the top flight.
His time at Elland Road will never be questioned by Whites fans who are fully aware of his unwavering commitment to the development of the club and the city.
