Marcelo Bielsa delivers very positive update on his Leeds United future

Add as preferred source on Google

Marcelo Bielsa has been quoted by Leeds Live in his pre-Ipswich press conference as stating that he is more than willing to remain at Leeds United as manager – even if the Whites fail to gain promotion.

There has been suggestions that the Argentine manager would leave Elland Road this summer, if the club failed to gain promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.

After missing out on automatic promotion to Sheffield United and Norwich City, Leeds now sit in third. They have to enter the play-offs, alongside West Brom and Aston Villa, and one of Derby, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.

With a contract until the summer of 2020, Bielsa was asked last week about his future and chose not to comment. This week, he has stated that even if promotion does not occur – he could remain at Leeds.

“I have never said if we don’t get promoted I won’t carry on my work here. I haven’t said I would leave or stay. I just said it was not the moment to discuss it,” Bielsa said.

“I just said it’s receiving the proposal and accepting or not. I would never say if we don’t go up I will leave because otherwise you would say the importance of this club is linked to the division it plays in.”

TBR’s view

This is enormous for Leeds. Even if the Whites do not get promoted, Bielsa has restored a pride and an identity at Leeds. Fans will remember the 2018-19 campaign for years to come.

The Whites are in a strong position for the play-offs, after Sunday’s clash at Portman Road against Ipswich. Bielsa is a Premier League standard manager, if not Champions League.

Keeping him at Leeds is imperative if Leeds are to gain promotion. But if they fail to do so, the best chance of doing it next year is with Bielsa at the helm.