Michail Antonio gives verdict on Leeds sacking Marcelo Bielsa

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Michail Antonio has told The Footballer’s Football Podcast that Leeds United sacking Marcelo Bielsa due to poor form seems quite crazy, and lauded the way that he cared about the city rather than just the football.

Leeds fans are still coming to terms with the news that Bielsa is no longer at Elland Road. His departure was announced on Sunday with the Whites really struggling.

The club have put their hopes of staying up in the hands of Jesse Marsch. But for the large majority of the supporters, Bielsa’s departure is about a lot more than Leeds’ performances on the pitch.

Many have almost been in mourning. And the outpouring of emotion has arguably hardly ever been seen, particularly when the manager has lost their job due to form and recent performances.

Comedian and Leeds fan Jon Richardson joined Antonio on the podcast to provide an insight into what the Elland Road faithful are feeling. And Antonio offered his verdict on Leeds’ decision to let Bielsa go.

“You’re saying you’re devastated over Bielsa. The decision to let him go because of a bad run of form is quite crazy because you lot had this bad run of form last season,” he told The Footballer’s Football Podcast.

“It’s one of those things where Bielsa didn’t just come in and care about the first team.

“I saw he used to go and watch the kids, he actually cared about the whole of Leeds. He went through from the ground up. “I think they even took the boys to do some community service in the area. He was Leeds.”

Decision on Bielsa future was never going to unite Leeds fanbase

The Leeds board will have been aware that sacking Bielsa was never going to be a popular decision. It says a lot that fans were still singing his name while the results were so poor.

Some had resigned themselves to the fact that something may need to change. However, there seemed to be a hope that Bielsa could see out the season after keeping Leeds in the Premier League.

But there were few calls for Bielsa to be sacked anytime soon. And the players’ reaction to the news told its own story.

His departure leaves Marsch with huge shoes to fill at Leeds. It does appear to be a gamble to turn to the 48-year-old at this moment.

Leeds will hope that Marsch can now build on the amazing foundations Bielsa has put in place at Elland Road.