Kalvin Phillips admits he can get frustrated because Marcelo Bielsa is so demanding.
Phillips has blossomed into one of the Championship’s best players under Bielsa and the midfielder says the Leeds boss is always telling him he can do better.
“He’s never completely satisfied,” said Phillips. “He’s always saying I can improve.
“That can be frustrating when you think you’ve played well, but those are the standards he sets.”
Phillips, 24, has been successfully converted into a holding midfielder by Bielsa and he is also comfortable playing at centre-half for the Championship leaders.
Despite his success, Phillips admits he was “confused” and “disappointed” when the Argentinian first suggested the switch.
“I was surprised at first,” he told FourFourTwo. “The season before he arrived, I’d scored seven goals, so I was a bit confused and disappointed when he spoke to me.
“I could hardly say no, though, could I, especially given his track record of improving players?
“He saw something in me and offered to teach me how to play a different role.”
Leeds legend Eddie Gray claims Phillips would be in Gareth Southgate’s England squad if he were playing in the Premier League and the homegrown star admits that is his goal.
“I know the bar is incredibly high for international footballers, but I feel I’m on the border of that,” said Phillips, who has made 172 appearances for Leeds since making his debut in April 2015.
“Once Leeds have become an established Premier League side again, I’ll be competing with the best.
“Hopefully I can do well enough to convince Gareth Southgate that I deserve a spot in his squad.”
