Leeds United defender Charlie Cresswell is thankful for the way Marcelo Bielsa keeps him and the rest of the under-23s on their toes.
Cresswell made his debut for the Whites in September 2020 but was forced to wait another 12 months for his next appearance when he played 90 minutes in the Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory against Fulham.
Just four days later, the 19-year-old was then handed his Premier League debut in the 2-1 defeat to West Ham United at Elland Road, where he produced an assured performance against one of the division’s most in-form strikers Michail Antonio.
In an interview with the Athletic, Cresswell revealed just how appreciative he is for the opportunity to work alongside a head coach with the quality of Bielsa at such a young age.
He said: “You never know where you stand and that’s good, because it keeps you pushing — never try and guess because you won’t get the right answer.
“I’ll be forever grateful for having him as a coach this early in my career. In training, you’re always thinking and it’s always 100 per cent. We train as we play. It’s hard to describe this in detail but with the key elements of my game, he’s done so much for me. I’ve been really lucky.”
Cresswell also opened up on the competition across the whole of the under-23s squad and while they are all fighting for the same goal, he said regardless of the rivalry among the players, everyone feels a sense of pride when someone is handed their debut.
“I saw Joffy (Gelhardt) getting his shirt on and I was buzzing. I’ll remember that moment for him.
“There’d only be rivalry if you’re competing for a position. I’m not fighting Joffy to get a game. I don’t do what he does. Anyone makes their debut, we’re all buzzing.”
