Neville says Leeds went from exciting to ‘bad’ under Bielsa

Gary Neville believes Leeds United went from exciting to “just bad” towards Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure.

Leeds parted ways with head coach Bielsa in the wake of Saturday’s 4-0 home thrashing by Tottenham.

Former RB Leipzig boss Jesse Marsch is expected to be appointed as the club’s new head coach this week.

Neville felt Leeds’ dire defensive record, which has seen them ship 60 goals in just 26 Premier League outings, ultimately proved costly for Bielsa.

Former Manchester United captain Neville said to Sky Sports:

“There is a bit of sadness as when you went to watch Leeds, and you enjoyed great games.

“But in the last few months, it’s become desperate.

“You go from admiration to despair when it comes to watching them.

“They aren’t exciting any more – just wrong. And bad defensively in the last few months, conceding so many goals and chances.

“They have no respect for the opposition. We know Marcelo Bielsa has his values and principles which are never going to change, but that has ultimately cost him.”

The Spurs’ defeat came at the end of a week in which Leeds suffered a loss to United and Liverpool.

Leeds are winless in six league matches since beating West Ham in mid-January, having lost five of those games, conceding 21 goals, meaning fan favourite.

This brought Bielsa’s reign to an end after over three-and-a-half seasons in the Elland Road dugout.

Bielsa enjoyed success, narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League at the end of the 2018-19 season.

Before ending their 16-year absence from the top flight, they secured a promotion one year later.

Upon their return to the big time, Leeds’ swashbuckling style of football saw them secure a surprise ninth-place finish.

Still, Bielsa’s team found the going far harder this campaign, with injuries to key players including Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford not helping.

Only Watford, who did so five times in 2016-17, has ever done more in a single season in the competition.

Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani called parting ways with Bielsa the “toughest decision” he has made since buying the club in 2017 but felt he had to act with Leeds now just two points above the relegation zone.

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