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Ricky Charlesworth

'You have to run more' - An insight into the demands Marcelo Bielsa places on his players

All supporters of Leeds United have come to know by now that head coach Marcelo Bielsa has his own visions of how the game should be played.

He is unerring and wants his players to be as adherent to these principles as he and his coaches are.

Woe betide anyone who refuses to buy into his methods.

There's no question it has worked so far during his time at Elland Road.

But not all players seem to buy into his methods or fit into his way of playing.

One such player was Carlos Villanueva, who has spoken about how Bielsa declared him unsuitable for selection whilst in charge of the Chile national team.

Villanueva, a midfielder who previously was on loan at Blackburn Rovers, was impressing for his country prior to the 2010 World Cup.

"I played the last few minutes in the match against Bolivia and thought I was breaking it," Villanueva told Goal.com.

"I ran a lot at speed, despite feeling drowned, and I thought I cracked it.

"After the match, Bielsa called me into his room and said, 'You have to be an athlete, you have to run more.'

"For the (next) game against Venezuela I didn't get selected and after that he didn't call me anymore.

"Unfortunately, my physical qualities are not ideal for what Bielsa wanted.

"I played as a left winger in his scheme and I have never been a fast player, but when I played for Chile I tried my best."

Villanueva never earned another recall for his country, either from Bielsa or any of his successors.

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