White Noise: Is 'Bielsa Burnout' To Blame For Leeds United's Troubles?

This image is a derivative of LUFC emblem on the side of Elland Road stadium by Jake (CC BY 2.0)

July 17th 2020.

Following title rivals West Brom’s 2-1 loss to Huddersfield, Leeds United secured promotion to the Premier League, bringing an end to a 16-year exile from the English top flight. 

Given the stature of the club, its rich history and global fanbase, it almost seems unthinkable that the Lilywhites could have been absent for so long; however, as we’ve seen all too many times, no club is too big for a dramatic fall from grace. 

The days of ‘Top Five’ finishes and European adventure fell away, overspending and financial mismanagement bringing about a downfall that saw the one time UEFA Champions League Semi-Finalists tumble all the way down to the third tier of the English pyramid. 

After years of false dawns and shattered hopes, it would take something special to finally guide them back to the ‘promised land’. 

RELATED: How Chelsea's Youth Academy Is Fuelling Their Meteoric Rise

That something was the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa. 

The man known as ‘El Loco’ (a nickname earned after the coach reportedly threatened to blow up a group of angry supporters with a grenade) is widely regarded as one of the most influential managers in modern football. 

The fiery Argentine is a revolutionary, spending a 30+ year career sweeping across South America and Europe preaching the gospel of the 3-3-3-1 formation. Amongst his ever growing group of devoted disciples are former wards like Diego Simeone and Mauricio Pochettino and one Josep Guardiola Sala, who holds the former Newell’s Old Boys coach in the highest of esteem. 

But Bielsa wasn’t satisfied with just returning United to the Premier League, he was determined to take it by storm.

They set the bar for the season to come in their two opening fixtures; a thrilling 4-3 defeat to reigning champions Liverpool followed by a 4-3 victory over former Championship rivals Fulham.

There would be no change of mentality, and certainly no buses parked in a bid to ensure their top flight status. If they were to survive, they were going to do it by playing the fast paced, transitional brand of football Bielsa made famous. 

If they were to go out, they would do it in style. 

At times they were knocked for six (quite literally in a 6-2 loss at Old Trafford) but this high risk-high reward route ultimately paid dividends with Leeds securing a 9th place finish in their first season back.

Unfortunately, Leeds are enduring a tough second season, so far failing to replicate the form that earned them so many plaudits. 

RELATED: Could A Composite Bottom-17 Team Topple The EPL's Elite?

As exciting as Bielsa’s style of play is for the spectator, it comes as a result of hours and hours of intense work. 

On the training pitch he drills players hard, running them through endless attacking and defensive scenarios, looking to control every minutiae and every possible outcome. The system comes first and requires total and absolute buy in from his players.

Like a well-oiled machine, it requires every single cog to be working in perfect synchronicity to work. One tiny error, one momentary loss of concentration, can spell disaster.

Unsurprisingly, it immensely physically and mentally demanding.

The man himself has long dismissed the ‘Bielsa Burnout’ phenomena as total nonsense, made up by journalists, but those who’ve worked under him have spoken publicly about the exhausting effects his regimes have on their mental, emotional and physical state.

“It’s basically playing 11 v 11.” Current Leeds midfielder Mateusz Klich told Leeds Live of Bielsa’s brutal training drills. 

“Constantly running around and sprinting… the coaches on the pitch basically screaming all the time.

“Even if the ball goes out, there’s a member of staff waiting with another ball to put in. You can’t stop.”

This sets the players up perfectly for the physical demands of the game plan but it comes at a price. 

“It’s a method that provokes a certain level of tiredness.” Former Newell’s Old Boys midfielder Juan Manuel Llop recalled in Angels with Dirty Faces. “Not just physical tiredness, but also mental and emotional tiredness.” 

“No-one was able to run as much as us.” Ander Herrera told Spanish football expert Graham Hunter while reflecting on working under Bielsa’s at Athletic Club de Bilbao. “But I can’t lie to you, in the last month’s we couldn’t even move. Our legs said ‘stop’. 

So, is the infamous burnout behind this season’s decline?

RELATED: Do You Believe In David Moyes?

Statistically, they outperformed many teams last season, and in all areas of the pitch. They made 18,652 passes (8th), led the league in tackles (740) made 149 blocks (7th) and 397 interceptions (10th). In attack, they scored 62 goals (6th most in the league) from their 522 shots, of which 199 were on target (both 5th) and scored the most goals on the counter with 7.

This season, while they’re still performing well across many of these metrics, they are struggling to convert their dominance in to victories. They’ve managed just 17 goals (tied with Newcastle as the 13th lowest in the league) and have already conceded 32 in 17 games, so it’s little wonder they’ve managed just three wins and find themselves way down in 16th place.

Patrick Bamford was involved in 24 goals last season (17G, 7A) but has only found the back of the net twice this time out, having been limited to just six games. Brazilian winger Raphinha is doing his best to pick up the slack, having scored 7 already, but no other player comes anywhere close, with Rodrigo on 2 and no other player managing more than one. 

Key contributors from 2020/21 like Stuart Dallas (8G, 2A), Jack Harrison (8G, 8A) and Mateusz Klich (4G, 5A) have also failed to come anywhere close to matching last seasons levels, combining for just one goal and three assists despite all playing at least 12 games.

Injuries in key areas are playing their part, with the recent loss of Kalvin Phillips, who has been a revelation under Bielsa, only further compounding their woes.

The drop off in performance levels and increased injuries may just be down to a combination of the dreaded second season syndrome and a bit of bad luck but his spell in the Leeds dugout represents the longest time ‘El Loco’ has remained in charge at any job. No team has been subjected to his arduous methods for this length of time before.

Given the taxing nature of his playing style and the length of time this tight knit squad have been subjected to it, it’s looking increasingly likely that their legs, as Herrera put it, are begging to stop.

Did you enjoy this article? Join our free mailing list to get the best content delivered straight to your inbox, or join the conversation by leaving a comment below or on the Stats Insider Twitter or Facebook page.