Leeds players 'gutted' trying to change Marcelo Bielsa's mind

Leeds players wanted Marcelo Bielsa to remain as manager of the Elland Road club and were left “gutted” by his departure, according to journalist Dean Jones.

Less than 24 hours after the Yorkshire giants were beaten by Tottenham on Saturday, the 66-year-old saw his three-and-a-half year reign as Leeds manager ended when he was relieved of his duties.

Despite having done an incredible job both on and off the pitch at Leeds, Bielsa’s departure has been on the cards for some time.

Earlier this month, the Telegraph reported that a three-man shortlist had been drawn up to replace Bielsa should he leave in the summer, while he was out of contract at the end of the season.

However, Leeds’ wretched Premier League form, which has dragged them into a relegation battle, left the hierarchy with little choice but to sack the popular Argentine, who took the club from the Championship to a ninth place finish in the top-flight.

Their woeful defensive record has been their most concerning factor of late, with the Tottenham defeat taking their goals conceded column to 60, the most in the division. Furthermore, Leeds have let in three goals in five consecutive matches and haven’t kept a clean sheet since November.

Despite those grim statistics and Leeds hardly competing in Bielsa’s final two games in charge, the Spurs loss and the 6-0 defeat at Liverpool, Jones reckons that the squad were gutted to see him go.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “The players are gutted. The players that did go to him were hoping he would [change his tactics] because they didn’t want him to leave, they wanted to be able to stay in games, but they knew the way they were playing left them way too open, and unfortunately, it was just too much.”

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