Bielsa’s successful spell at Elland Road could be set to end prematurely
Rumoured circulated on Wednesday afternoon Marcelo Bielsa could be set to resign as manager of Leeds United, following a report by Onefootball.
A press conference has been arranged at Elland Road for 5pm at which it has been reported that Bielsa will announce his decision.
The Argentine coach has been a revelation in the Championship since taking over Paul Heckingbottom in the summer, and has led the club to the top of the league playing an exhilarating brand of pass-and-move football.
There had been question marks over whether the former Athletic Club coach’s eccentric management style and notoriously intense style of football would work in the second tier of English football, but his Leeds side have shocked many by adapting quickly and playing some of the best football seen in the league in years.
That reported decision is believed to relate to the backlash over Bielsa’s admission that he sent a member of staff to spy on Derby County’s training session.
An FA and EFL investigation are currently underway into the incident, which has become known as ‘spygate’.
An EFL statement on Tuesday confirmed that they had contacted Leeds United seeking information on the matter.
“The EFL has today written to Leeds United requesting their observations in regard to an incident that took place in the vicinity of Derby County’s training ground on Thursday 10 January, 2019. It follows a complaint from Derby County who allege that an individual, acting under the instruction of Leeds United, sought to observe a private training session the day before the two clubs were due to meet in the Sky Bet Championship.
“The EFL has now determined that it is appropriate to consider this matter in the context of a number of EFL regulations whilst also noting that the alleged actions appear to contravene the Club’s Charter that all EFL clubs agreed to in summer 2018.
“The decision to progress this matter to a formal investigation comes as a result of the club’s manager, Marcelo Bielsa, admitting to instructing an individual to undertake the acts being complained of in a television interview broadcast on Sky Sports on Friday, January 11, 2019.
“The Football Association has also confirmed they are considering the same matter in line with its own rules and the EFL will work with its FA counterparts to ensure that any potential action taken does not prejudice those investigations being undertaken.”
