Marcelo Bielsa: Leeds United fans' love stays strong amid Premier League relegation battle - BBC 20/2/22

Manchester United survived a stirring Leeds United comeback at a highly-charged Elland Road to claim a crucial victory and maintain their grip on a top-four place in the Premier League.

In the first league game in front of fans between the two old rivals at Elland Road since October 2003, they produced a fitting spectacle played out in a deluge and a predictably thunderous atmosphere.

Manchester United were in complete control at the break after captain Harry Maguire headed in Luke Shaw's corner, and Bruno Fernandes did the same from Jadon Sancho's cross right on half-time.

Leeds, however, mounted a superb revival and were level with two goals inside a minute as Rodrigo's 53rd-minute cross drifted in behind keeper David de Gea, then substitute Raphinha sent Elland Road into raptures when he slid home a cross from Daniel James.

Manchester United gathered themselves, manager Ralf Rangnick made changes, and one of his substitutes produced the rewards as Fred drove in at Illan Meslier's near post following more good work by Sancho with 20 minutes left - although Anthony Elanga was struck by objects thrown from the crowd amid the celebrations.

Elanga recovered to confirm Manchester United's win with a composed finish two minutes from time from Fernandes' pass.

Manchester United's victory came in three phases - the control of the first half, the shock of Leeds United's quick one-two, then the recovery to finally close out the victory they deserved.

This was always going to be a test of mettle and for a spell after the break when Leeds scored those two quick goals and were winning all the 50-50s in this most raucous of environments, it looked like they would not come through the examination unscathed.

Manchester United's players looked shell-shocked at the turn of events that allowed Leeds, who looked deflated at half-time, to revive themselves and even threaten a victory that would have been the sweetest of all for the home fans, who made their dislike of the visitors clear before, during and after this game.

Manager Rangnick, however, deserves credit for the changes that restored Manchester United's equilibrium, Fred coming on to put them back in front and another substitute, Elanga, snuffing out any hope Leeds had of a point with the fourth.

Manchester United will feel they deserved the win over the whole piece, but they were fragile at times and were rocking under Leeds attacks until Fred silenced the crowd, albeit temporarily.

There were unsavoury scenes when Elanga needed to be attended to after being hit by missiles thrown from the crowd following Fred's goal, but he was able to regain his composure to such an extent that he struck the final blow in the closing moments.

Manchester United enjoyed their second win in a week and sit fourth, four points behind Chelsea and four ahead of fifth-placed West Ham, but know they need to keep winning with Arsenal four points behind in sixth with three games in hand.

Leeds United demonstrated every facet of exactly what they are in another Elland Road thrill ride.

Marcelo Bielsa's side can be called many things but never dull.

Leeds showed their defensive frailty in the first half when Diego Llorente failed miserably to mark Maguire at a corner, the situation not helped by keeper Meslier's 'in-out' hokey-cokey that left him in no man's land.

They were exposed again when Victor Lindelof strode out of defence to tee up Sancho for the perfect cross on to Fernandes' head to send clouds of gloom over Elland Road, to accompany those depositing constant heavy rain on a pitch left carrying surface water.

What we saw then was the bold, attacking bravery that has made Leeds, under Bielsa, one of the most exciting teams to watch since their return to the Premier League.

They pulled the situation around but there was never a sense that they were in complete control, secure against an attacking counterpunch and so it proved as Manchester United inflicted further punishment.

Leeds and Bielsa cannot get midfield lynchpin Kalvin Phillips, main marksman Patrick Bamford and defender Liam Cooper back quick enough, just to ease those worries of dropping into relegation The giant flag raised at Elland Road before kick-off bore the face of Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa and was emblazoned with the words: "Teacher. Visionary. Legend."

And as the final whistle sounded after the sort of thrill ride that has been the Argentine's template during his time in charge, this time ending in a 4-2 defeat by Manchester United, the whole stadium echoed to the name of the enigmatic coach who has allowed one of England's great old footballing institutions to live the dream once more.

Bielsea struck the trademark pose - rain-soaked, crouching, staring at the floor - as what threatened to be one of his most famous victories ended in a loss that makes even the Leeds fans who adore him increasingly nervous about how this season might end.

This week, for the first time since he was appointed in June 2018, the noise around Bielsa's potential departure has reached levels where even potential successors, in this case American Jesse Marsch, have been touted.

Bielsa, as ever, refuses to be drawn into talk about his future until he is ready to make a decision. And rightly so given his main priority now is, whatever decision he takes, ensuring Leeds United are in the Premier League next season.

Even in defeat, the whole of Elland Road rose for their beloved Bielsa in a show of unconditional love that has characterised that relationship since he arrived in West Yorkshire. Just speaking with Leeds fans around the stadium confirmed that not even relegation will shape their feelings for him any other way.

And yet, there is a worrying, fragile look to this Leeds United side that Bielsa, a coach not renowned for wearing the cloak of conservatism or switching a long-held philosophy, must somehow arrest and quickly.

The four goals Leeds conceded here made it 50 in the Premier League this season, and there is a soft underbelly Bielsa is either unwilling or unable to cure.

Harry Maguire powered past the softest of challenges from Diego Llorente for Manchester United's first goal, not helped by chronic indecision from goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Bruno Fernandes was left unattended by three defenders for the second, while goals three and four from Fred and Anthony Elanga came with Leeds caught short at the back.

Even when Leeds almost took the roof off an electric Elland Road to draw level with two goals inside a minute from Rodrigo and Raphinha, there was never a sense they had the game under control. It was wild, frenetic and ultimately all done in a losing cause.

In Bielsa's defence, and he does not like to work with a big squad, Leeds have been holed below the waterline by injuries to their best midfielder Kalvin Phillips, most potent striker Patrick Bamford and defensive leader Liam Cooper.

Most sides would feel those blows but Leeds are suffering them even more.

The romantics would never want this love affair between Leeds and Bielsa to end in relegation, but football does not really do romance. He now needs to find a way to get results.

Speculation about his future can wait - but it does not stop us examining what Bielsa has brought to the Premier League, what he has done at Leeds and what he would leave behind should he depart in another couple of months.

Leeds United have been compelling, attractive viewing under Bielsa since their return to the Premier League at the start of last season, finishing a hugely creditable ninth.

They have been brave, entertaining and have never taken a backwards step, although those who are not Bielsa disciples will rightly point to how defensive flaws have not been cured, how he is a stranger to any sort of pragmatism that might be considered negative.

He has delivered the coaching expertise that has dragged more out of many of his players that a lot of observers - and perhaps even the players themselves - thought possible.

Bielsa has brought respectability and a measure of continuity to a club that was mired in a football and financial mess in the preceding years, dropping into the third tier, employing 15 managers (16 if we throw in the two days Gwyn Williams had the title in January 2008) in a period of untold turbulence from May 2004.

Leeds ended up in places they never thought possible, such as the third tier, while the same could be said for Bielsa, but they ended in the more palatable location of the Premier League.

Bielsa risks everything on his attacking philosophy. It can be deeply flawed and has been exposed as such, but the spectacle and excitement it has brought back to Elland Road overrides any downside as far as his adoring fans are concerned.

It may well be that Bielsa's reign is losing momentum. It may well be that if he cannot arrest the current decline that the fervent fanbase who worship him will end the season knee-deep in chewed fingernails.

What is beyond doubt, however, is that no matter what fate befalls Leeds United, and whatever decision Bielsa makes, this was another afternoon when those same supporters demonstrated nothing will diminish his status.

Bielsa has brought them too much for that.And they could be without defender Robin Koch, who was taken off after suffering a head wound in a collision with Scott McTominay.

They are five points off the relegation places with a trip to Liverpool on the horizon this week, so it will not get any easier for Bielsa and his players.