Former Leeds United striker Mark Viduka has praised Marcelo Bielsa for sticking to his guns in the Premier League this season.
Bielsa brought Leeds back into the top-flight for the first time in 16 years by winning the Championship in 2019/20 and has not changed his unique tactics this season.
Leeds have continued to play a high-intensity man-for-man style, rather than adopting a more cautious approach against better opposition.
The Whites have been rewarded with some fantastic results and are currently in 11th place, with 39 points from 29 matches.
Viduka scored 92 goals in 240 Premier League appearances for Leeds, Middlesbrough and Newcastle and admits that he has been pleasantly surprised by Bielsa’s success.
“I was rapt when Bielsa was appointed as manager. I heard a lot of good things,” he told former Leeds team-mate Paul Robinson for Sky Sports.
“To be honest, I didn’t expect him to have such a big impact. It just goes to show that someone who can take a team like - OK they were a better team in the Championship - but to be up in the Premier League and play the type of football they play. It’s very exciting.
“I enjoy watching Leeds and I like his philosophy of attacking. The way that they play, you can tell they’ve worked really hard at the team’s cohesion, pressing as a team.
“It’s just exciting football. Nobody likes when you lose, but I like the fact that they all put 100% in. They work together as a team.”
Viduka joined Leeds in a £6million transfer from Celtic in 2000 and immediately hit the ground running, scoring 22 goals in all competitions in his first campaign.
The Australian had a good reputation, having netted 27 goals in his first full season with Celtic, but his experiences means he has a good perspective on Patrick Bamford’s performances - and 16 Premier League goals - for Leeds so far this season.
“Bamford has been unbelievable this season, the way that he’s stepped up to the plate. Basically, that’s what it is,” he said.
“Nobody knew what would happen going from the Championship. It’s very difficult. I am glad that Bielsa is sticking to his guns as a manager - playing the same way week in, week out.
“I think that’s the only way, if you know what you’re doing as a football manager, that’s the only way to go about it.
“There are obviously going to be some hiccups, but if you stick to your guns and the way you play and not change to every single team you play against, because that creates instability as well.
"I think that over a season of 40 games or whatever, 80% of the time you are going to be doing well and what you want to be doing as a team.”
