Ex-manager can’t believe Leeds update on Bielsa from inside source
Alex McLeish has backed Marcelo Bielsa to guide Leeds United to Premier League survival.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and Scotland manager admitted there was a “ruthlessness” in football that could see Bielsa sacked soon.
A Leeds source told Football Insider on Tuesday (21 December) that the Argentine could be sacked as early as next month if he does not lead a revival in fortunes.
There is a growing acceptance he will not be at Elland Road next season with this current campaign set to be his last.
“He’s somewhat of a legendary figure in the coaching world,” McLeish told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“But saying that the football world is ruthless. You see Frank De Boer coming into Crystal Palace, getting four games and being sacked. Was there evidence there that he couldn’t build it and bring it back again? Not sure.
“Ever since then there have been other cases with exactly the same decisions. There is a ruthlessness in the game with so much money involved in the Premier League.
“Managers are under pressure right from the very beginning.
“Look at Dean Smith, Villa wasted no time in sacking Dean. You can see it happening in this football world where high-end businessmen run clubs.
“Nobody wants to see Bielsa go with the work he did to get them back into the Premier League after so many absent years.
“Every coach in the world has great respect for him but unfortunately the world of football is ruthless.
“You would put the smart money on Bielsa to turn it around and stay in the Premier League.
“But the moment they see a threat of relegation then these things happen.”
In other news, Leeds United have been told to sign a ‘ridiculous talent with no injuries’ after a Phil Hay reveal.