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One of the things that Marcelo Bielsa is famous for having at his clubs, at least at Lille anyway, looks to be coming to Leeds.
Marcelo Bielsa explains why he asked Leeds United for structural changes to their training ground - including the installation of sleeping areas for his players:https://t.co/DhFav15SdM
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) September 27, 2018
The former Argentina manager convinced the club to install sleeping quarters for all the players at Thorp Arch, saying:
I don’t want people to think I impose my point of view to the club because that’s not the case. I make suggestions and then the club decides if it wants to invest in the infrastructures or not. When I arrived to the club the players were receiving a very good service. I proposed some small changes.
The club is willing to give additional facilities to the players. When you are a professional footballer you need to rest and you need to be together with your teammates. This belongs to the profession.
For regular citizens, when you rest, when you live together, when you have activities together it’s not a necessity, it’s not an obligation. But in professional football it’s an obligation. The club has to take into account the fact that players spend a lot of time here.
It was pointed out that many Premier League clubs do the same exact thing, so it’s not as bonkers as it sounds. And he’s right that spending time together, like eating together, builds a team. Will it make a difference on the pitch? It certainly has so far, but will it continue?
On to the links.
Leeds United Links
Bielsa was right, Leeds were unlucky against Birmingham City. [Through It All Together]
Loan round-up. [Through It All Together]
England and English Football Links
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has had contract talks break down. Could he really leave? [The Short Fuse]
Aston Villa’s FFP status means that they can’t be patient with Steve Bruce. [7500 to Holte]
World Football Links
AC Milan dropped two points against Empoli after giving up a second-half penalty. [AC Milan Offside]
Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the Young Boys match. [Black & White & Read All Over]
Are Inter Milan starting to gel as a team? [Serpents of Madonnina]
Germany beat Turkey and will host the 2024 Euros. [BBC.com]
In Mexico, Pumas UNAM beat Chivas de Guadalajara in Guadalajara for the first time in 36 years. [FMF State of Mind]