Leeds United outcast Eunan O’Kane reveals he has never spoke with Marcelo Bielsa

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Leeds United midfielder Eunan O’Kane has been discussing how his career at Elland Road has come to an end and his relationship with current boss Marcelo Bielsa. 

Leeds snapped up the 29-year-old from Bournemouth in 2016 with the hope he could help guide the club to the Premier League, as he had previously done on the South Coast. 

However, he struggled to find consistent form for Leeds under multiple managers. When Bielsa arrived it quickly emerged that he was not a part of the Argentine’s plans. He was soon loaned out to Luton Town, a deal, unfortunately, cut short after a nasty leg break. 

Speaking to Balls in his homeland, O’Kane explained that decision and the relationship he currently has with ‘El Loco’.

“(It was) Blunt. I don’t remember the exact date the manager took charge, but it was that summer and I got a call from (director of football) Victor Orta.

“He just told me straight out. ‘We brought in a new manager, he doesn’t see you as part of his plans. It is probably best you look to go on loan or move on to get some football.’

“I was still on holiday. Apparently, he watched all of the games from the previous season and made his decision based on that.”

“We (O’Kane and Bielsa) have never had a conversation. He gets on with his business and I get on with mine.”

TBR’s View

Not many Leeds United fans were left disappointed with Bielsa’s decision over O’Kane. The seven-cap Republic of Ireland international struggled to find form at Elland Road and there is no doubt the team has improved since he has been out of the picture. 

Bielsa simply never saw him as any part of a system he wanted to play and, quite fairly, swiftly decided it was best for him to move on. As O’Kane alluded to later in the interview, that straightforward approach was something he appreciated and it is only injury that has seen him fail to move on from Leeds in the summer. 

Hopefully, he can find himself a new club in January and start to rebuild his career after a disappointing West Yorkshire stint.