Escape from Marcelo Bielsa’s critical eye is not an option for Tyler Roberts even though Leeds United’s season is over and he is more than 2,500 miles away.
The 22-year-old is currently with Wales in Azerbaijan and making the final preparations for Euro 2020, which start on Saturday against Switzerland.
Even though this is supposedly the close season for the Whites and their chance to get away from the Thorp Arch talent factory, their head coach’s analysis never stops.
After nine months of a Premier League season under Bielsa’s watchful eye and demanding training schedule, this period is not the escape some may have thought, as Euro 2020 analysis pushes 21/22 planning on.
Speaking after putting his signature on a new contract to 2024, Roberts said Bielsa had huge respect for international football and what call-ups meant for his players.
“He’s somebody that’s very proud and knows it’s a big deal for you to get called up and play for your national team,” said Roberts.
“He’s very big on that, so there’s a lot of boys going away now and quite a lot at the Euros, which is a big plus for the club and for the way we’ve played this season.
“It’s a great achievement, but he still does the analysing on clips of your national team when you get back, so there’s no hiding.”
Roberts’s new contract is a pleasant end to a mixed season for him, of which the low point was a four-month stint outside United’s starting line-up through the winter.
Of course, Bielsa is never prone to publicly criticising those players outside his starting line-up or laying out what they are doing wrong.
Behind the scenes though, for all of the difficult moments he admits he had, Roberts said there has never been an us and them attitude from Bielsa on the training pitches when it comes to those in and out the line-up.
“It’s not something he highlights,” he said. “Whether you’re in the team or out of it, he’s always telling you things to improve on, which is what makes him so great.
“You are never not learning. Whether you’re scoring goals like Patrick Bamford was this season or not scoring the goals like I was, you’re always getting told little things you can improve.”
