Here is your Leeds United morning digest for Saturday, May 23.
Ex-Leeds defender praises club’s owner
Aston Villa chief Christian Purslow should follow in the footsteps of Andrea Radrizzani and keep quiet over plans for the Premier League’s Project Restart, according to former Leeds United defender Alex Bruce.
Purslow has been one of the leading figures in opposing neutral venues to complete the season.
But Bruce thinks Purslow should take a leaf out of Leeds owner Radrizzani’s book.
He told Football Insider : “When you see someone like Christian Purslow come out and say he wants this and the other, he’s obviously panicking about relegation.
“I respect people like Radrizzani who have just kept their head down, let the powers that be make the decisions and respect them when those decisions have been made.”
Bielsa’s sportsmanship inspires Gonzalez tattoo
Argentina midfielder Lucho Gonzalez has revealed he has a tattoo of Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa on one of his hamstrings – thanks to his former coach’s sportsmanship.
It was Bielsa who gave Athletico Paranaense’s Gonzalez, who has also played for Marseille and FC Porto, his national team debut back in January, 2003.
Gonzalez, 39, went on to earn 45 caps for Argentina, and said that he decided to get the tattoo following Leeds’ controversial game with Aston Villa last season when Bielsa ordered his players to let the opposition score straight from the restart.
Read the full story here.
“Bielsa best I worked under” - Mascherano
Another of Marcelo Bielsa’s former charges has lavished him with praise.
Ex-Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano said his fellow Argentine was among the best managers he has ever worked under, despite having been bossed by such names as Pep Guardiola and Rafa Benitez.
Bielsa gave Mascherano, who is now at Estudiantes de La Plata, his national team debut during a 2-2 draw with Uruguay in 2003.
The 35-year-old, who can also operate at centre-half, told Argentinian media outlet Ole : “Surely he is among the best I have ever had.
“The problem is that I had Marcelo at a very young age and when you are so young you can retain little.
“My consideration for a coach who bet on me without having made his debut in a first-team is very high. I hold Marcelo in very high esteem.”
