Pundit makes ‘crazy’ Marcelo Bielsa claim after latest Everton twist
Alan Hutton has claimed Everton dodged a bullet by appointing Sean Dyche over Marcelo Bielsa.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender said that choosing Bielsa as their manager would have been more of a risk for the Toffees.
On 24 January, Football Insider revealed that the former Leeds United boss rejected an approach from the Merseysiders to take over from Frank Lampard.
As relayed by The Athletic (27 January), Bielsa wanted to take charge of Everton’s under-21 team until the end of the season when he would begin with the first team.
The 67-year-old wanted time to prepare with the first team before next season in order to implement his style and methods.
Dyche was announced as the new manager on Monday (30 January) and won his first game in charge against league leaders Arsenal on Saturday (4 February).
When asked if the Toffees could regret not taking up Bielsa’s offer, Hutton told Football Insider: “I had never heard of something like that before.
“Either you go in and manage the team or you do not. It is a bit strange.
“I think with Bielsa he needs time, if it was the start of the season and he could get his own players in. It is kind of crazy sometimes the way he plays.
“I think it is very difficult to come in mid-season, in a relegation battle and get that point across. Of course it could have worked but that was more of a risk.
“Sean Dyche has been there, done it, bought the t-shirt. He knows what it is all about, he knows how to get the best out of players. I think he could be the man to keep them up and build on that next year.“
In other news, according to sources, Everton are keeping tabs on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Chelsea axe.