What a game, what a win, and what a start to the year! After Bielsa stayed out with the players following their 7-0 drubbing at Manchester City, and the fans cheered them like heroes after the 4-1 defeat at home to Arsenal, the players repaid these acts of love in the only way they could, by sweating blood to beat Burnley. It was arguably the most important game an Elland Road crowd has witnessed since Leeds’s Championship promotion bid fell apart three seasons ago, some called it ‘must-win’, the rest called it a ‘six-pointer’, but Marcelo Bielsa called it what it was, ‘a chance to change the direction the season is heading’. His team took that chance with both hands, and hugged it as tightly as the embraces between Dallas and the South Stand, and Bielsa and Pablo Quiroga.

“It was arguably the most important game an Elland Road crowd has witnessed since Leeds’s Championship promotion bid fell apart three seasons ago”

Leeds were never not going to win this match, the senior players wouldn’t allow it. Luke Ayling was back to his marauding best, Klich played one of the best games of his Leeds career, and Stuart Dallas scored the vital second goal on the landmark occasion of his 250th United appearance. Forshaw was fantastic again too, ensuring that Kalvin Phillips wasn’t missed at all. I’d say praise doesn’t come higher than that, but my dad commented that Forshaw reminded him of Billy Bremner, and praise really doesn’t come higher than that! Everyone played well on Sunday, it was a complete performance that showed why Leeds should have no relegation worries this season. There are deficiencies in the squad, even in the tactics from time to time, but we have an array of top-class internationals in the team, some wise old heads too, Joffy Gelhardt on the bench, and a determination and togetherness that would keep much worse teams clear of danger. The Whites now have as many victories as the bottom three combined and, judging by what we have seen of the four teams below us, that may still be the case at the end of the season.

“The Whites now have as many victories as the bottom three combined and, judging by what we have seen of the four teams below us, that may still be the case at the end of the season. ”

Three points were the be all and end all on Sunday, but Bielsa’s reaction to the brilliant third goal was significant too, serving as a reminder to those who need it why our manager is untouchable. When results don’t go our way it is natural to discuss decisions that didn’t work out, but discussions about his future, even when the conclusion is to ‘stick with Bielsa’, have made my skin crawl. Talk about not knowing how lucky you are! We have a world-class genius at the helm who wouldn’t leave us for any job in the world, no matter how many millions were thrown at him, how can anybody contemplate replacing him? There also seems to be a growing assumption that this will be Bielsa’s final season, but from the day he joined Bielsa was planning long term, and so far he has only achieved stage one. The next stage is the exciting one; battling to join the elite in the best league in the world, while the stadium transforms around him and the training complex too. Why would he walk away? Bielsa loves Yorkshire, he loves the club, and he has waited decades to work for a board that will give him the trust and support he needs to implement his philosophy. As long as that continues, Bielsa will continue, and so will the progress.

So, on to the next one. In these uncertain Covid times we can never be sure who is up next, but with two bites at the cherry it is almost certain that Leeds will head to the Jessica Ennis Stadium for their next game, hopefully in the FA Cup. I am hopeful we will field our strongest available side, and against a weakened West Ham team, I am hopeful of claiming the first of four victories that would allow Bielsa to lead his team out at Wembley. It would only be in the semi-final, but what a wonderful sight it would be. Sometimes in football the script is written, and fifty years on from our only FA Cup triumph, in 2022, the year of El Loco, maybe, just maybe, the stars will align.

Rocco Dean - Author of Marcelo Bielsa vs The Damned United (order on Amazon)

An Act of Love Returned