Pundit: Leeds should sack ‘stubborn’ Bielsa – They ‘get battered every week’

Lewis Oldham
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa

Gabriel Agbonlahor has urged Leeds United to part ways with Marcelo Bielsa as they are getting “battered every week” at the moment.

Leeds finished ninth in the Premier League last term in what was their return season in the top flight.

The Yorkshire side have struggled this term though as they currently sit 16th in the table. They have won just three of their 18 games this campaign.


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On Saturday, they were beaten 4-1 by Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal at Elland Road.

Leeds have been heavily affected by injuries this season. They currently have ten first team players unavailable, including Patrick Bamford and Kalvin Phillips.

Despite this, Agbonlahor believes it is time for Bielsa to leave. As quoted by the Express, he has suggested that Leeds need someone who can keep them up:

“They’ve been so far out of the Premier League, so many years they’ve been in the Championship, they’ve finally got back in the Premier League, surely they want to stay there,” Agbonlahor said.

“For me, I would change Bielsa, the way they’re playing at the moment, it’s very stubborn coaching, you’re playing against big teams with world-class players and you’re trying to go toe-to-toe.

“You can’t do that in the Premier League, for me I would change it. Get someone in who can keep Leeds United up now.

“You look at the table, Burnley have got three games in hand on Leeds, five points behind them.

“They’re playing with fire, they’re playing with relegation and if they did go down, it might take them another 16 years to get back up.

“So, for me, I just don’t understand it, the atmosphere at the ground, the fans are cheering, you’re getting battered every week, it’s Sunday league scores.”

Elsewhere, Kevin Phillips has claimed that Leeds United’s decision to sign Daniel James has “backfired”:

“I’ve said that all along. I don’t think that was an area which needed strengthening. You’ve got Jack Harrison and Raphinha, two quality players – as well as others who can fill in.

“I thought it would backfire if they didn’t bring in that other recognised goalscorer – and it has. He’s played Dan James down the middle, but he’s never a striker in a million years.

“It’s just papering over the cracks at the moment. Adam Forshaw and Stuart Dallas are hardly setting the world alight as well in midfield.

“They should have used that money to go and get a quality striker who could have challenged Bamford or come in when he’s out the team. That would have given them a real chance of staying in this league.”