Unpopular opinion: Marcelo Bielsa’s centre-back policy could cost Leeds United promotion

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Marcelo Bielsa is a genius. There is absolutely no doubting the Leeds United manager’s ability as a football coach. He is one of the most influential coaches of the modern era and the way he has turned around Leeds United’s fortunes is remarkable. 

However, for the second season in a row, one of Bielsa’s philosophies could backfire on Leeds United. 

Once again, the club have gone into the season with just two out-and-out recognised central defenders.

Leeds sold Pontus Jansson this summer, leaving captain Liam Cooper to form a partnership with the brilliant Brighton loanee Ben White. 

In support, Leeds have a host of stand-ins. Gaetano Berardi is a full-back convert, Luke Ayling is better at right-back whilst Kalvin Phillips would have to drop in from midfield. Youngster Leif Davis is also a left-back by-trade whilst Pascal Struijk has little experience at this level. 

At the start of the season, many wondered if once again Leeds were short in squad numbers. Nobody mentioned it when Cooper and White were dominating early on. However, Cooper is now out of action for six weeks and the results are already clear. 

Berardi’s red card was harsh at the weekend but was also the eighth of his Elland Road career. He cannot be trusted as the regular back-up at a key position over a 46-game campaign. 

Leeds needed another centre-back at numerous points last season and even the season before under Thomas Christiansen and Paul Heckingbottom when the likes of Paudie O’Connor, Conor Shaugnessy and Hugo Diaz got game time. 

Once again, they are short in the position and it could end up costing them vital points in the hunt for automatic promotion. 

It is a situation Leeds could aim to rectify in January but it would not be the Bielsa way. Whilst it is always hard to criticise ‘El Loco’, considering his sensational CV and the impact he has had in West Yorkshire, this looks a clear weakness in Leeds’ hopes of automatic promotion.