Adam Forshaw admits concern Bielsa would leave Leeds last summer

By Jordan Harris

Adam Forshaw has admitted to BBC West Yorkshire Sport Extra that he was slightly concerned that Marcelo Bielsa would leave Leeds at the end of last season, insisting that many at Elland Road felt the same. 

There were questions surrounding Bielsa’s future following the dramatic end to last season. Leeds looked nailed on to get promoted automatically to the Premier League before ending up in the play-offs.

(Photo by Ben Early/Getty Images)

And after then looking set to reach Wembley, a remarkable capitulation saw Leeds throw away their semi-final tie.

Despite that, the large majority of Whites fans were desperate for Bielsa to stay for another year. He already looks destined to go down as one of most popular head coaches in the club’s history.

(Photo by Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Fortunately, Bielsa decided to give it another go and agreed to stay on as Leeds boss for this season. And once again, the Whites are looking set to be there or thereabouts come the end of the campaign.

Leeds are back on top of the table. And ahead of the new year, Forshaw explained what a boost it was when the news came through that Bielsa was going nowhere.

“Slightly, yeah,” he told BBC West Yorkshire Sport Extra, when asked whether he was worried about Bielsa leaving after last season. “I think everyone involved with the club was.

“Obviously, he’s got an unbelievable CV. Someone with that amount of experience and knowledge, I was thinking yeah, he could have maybe gone on and managed in the Premier League or somewhere else. But we kept him and we’re doing pretty well so far and everyone’s enjoying it.”

Whatever happens during the remaining months of the season, there is surely no question that what Bielsa has achieved has been remarkable.

Leeds were regularly finishing in mid-table before Bielsa’s arrival. In fact, any promotion hopes were often all but dashed by this stage of the year in previous campaigns.

Bielsa has not conducted a huge overhaul of the personnel within the squad. And yet, Leeds are now the team that many are tipping from promotion again this season.