SACKED Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa dreamed of playing a formation that had the goalkeeper OUTFIELD.
The Premier League strugglers took the agonising decision to part company with the 66-year-old Argentine last week.
2
Former RB Leipzig gaffer Jesse Marsch has been named as the man to help steer the Yorkshire side away from relegation.
Bielsa masterminded Leeds’ great return to the top flight of English football after 16 years in the wilderness, and they impressed in their first season back, finishing ninth.
But things have fallen apart this season, not helped by a spate of injuries to key men like Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford.
Bielsa was known for his tactical genius – but there was one dream he never got to realise at Elland Road – dispensing of the traditional goalkeeper role.
Chelsea’s former goalkeeper coach Christophe Lollichon explained to RMC Sport: “He [Bielsa] said ‘Christophe, you know my dream’?
“I replied ‘no, win a title maybe’?
“He replied ‘it would be to play a three at the back formation with the goalkeeper at the base. But for that I would need two to three years of work and I’ll never have the time at Leeds’.”
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Marsch, 48, now comes in after talks with Elland Road chiefs over how he will keep them in the top-flight.
The former United States international assistant manager had his work permit accepted on Monday.
He told the club website: “It’s something I’m really excited about, I know what a big club Leeds is, I know ex-players who have played here and I’ve watched this club from afar for many years and I’m really honoured and excited to be here.
Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani said he fast-tracked Marcelo Bielsa’s exit because ‘something was broken’.
Radrizzani revealed they were planning for Bielsa to leave in the summer, but that he had to sack the Argentine because of their dire form.
The idolised manager lost five of his last six games.
2
⚽ Read our Football News Live blog for breaking news, transfer gossip and must-read stories