People often defend Bielsa by pointing to where we were when he took over, but even as a staunch El Loco fan that argument leaves me a little uneasy. As The Great Man said before the first game of the season, ‘There is a special moment in a team’s development when the recognition of what happened before disappears, and the demand for what’s next increases.’ We should respect how far Bielsa’s methods have taken us, but how shit these players and this football team were in 2018BC is irrelevant to the present and future. 

I prefer to defend Bielsa by pointing to the team he has created in the here and now, in season 2021/22. Over the past 20 years it has often been said that the Leeds fans will love any player who gives their all, and cult heroes have been born under this premise. What we have now is a whole squad that not only runs their hearts out for 90 minutes but dedicates their lives to being fitter than any team since sports bras made the metric measurable. Their brand of football is scintillating too, so what’s not to love? Well, they can’t bloody win can they…

Granted, it’s not a good trait, but I enjoyed the Liverpool game despite the pummelling we took. The first six minutes were sensational, the next fifteen pulsating, and hanging on for half-time was a small triumph. In the second half we kept fighting right to the death, the desperate last-ditch defending was heroic, and we still created chances even with ten men. All this strengthened my belief that Leeds will have a good season.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Newcastle game. In a breathless first half Leeds played some wonderful football and it was a joy to see Rodrigo showing us what he is capable of. He looked a different class to everyone on the pitch in the first half (except Kalvin Phillips of course), and even in a quieter second half Rodrigo could have won us the match with a moment of class that presented Bamford with a golden chance. It was frustrating that Newcastle were let off the hook, and it’s annoying that Leeds remain winless, and next up is a cup game, and in the cup winning really is everything. Yet even if Leeds win at Fulham – and move within three rounds of a Wembley final – we will still be winless when thoughts immediately turn to the next Premier League match against West Ham on Saturday. I dread to think of the online panic if we don’t win that, no matter how well we play or how badly we are treated by VAR. The players won’t panic though. They responded to a four-game end of season collapse by winning at Derby with barely 11 fit players, and they responded to an 11-game mid-season collapse with five straight wins and clean sheets. They are brainwashed by Bielsa and their faith in the system remains unshakable.

So, is winning everything? For me, I suppose not. The most important thing for me is being proud of my team, and I couldn’t be prouder of them. They play in the right spirit, they entertain, they’re fully committed, and they have brought Elland Road back to life; never has the atmosphere been as fervent in my lifetime. The wins will take care of themselves come what may, because Leeds are a very good side that a lot of teams cannot handle, but under Marcelo Bielsa Leeds don’t have to win for me to enjoy their games and perhaps that is the essence of Bielsaball. It is a gift we should cherish and I’m grateful I can. It would be nice if they did win soon though.

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