Adrian Durham: We should cherish Marcelo Bielsa while we have him – watching his Leeds United live is among my sporting highlights
My first job after becoming a fully qualified broadcast journalist many years ago was in Leeds. I thrived in a city full of sport, culture, life and nightlife. I loved every second.
Luckily, since I arrived at talkSPORT in 1999 there have been regular trips back to what I call 'the capital of Yorkshire' for rugby league, England games, Leeds United games and cricket. I make the most of every single trip.
So when talkSPORT told me I was hosting the show with Yorkshire legend Darren Gough from Headingley ahead of the third Ashes test, I couldn’t stop smiling. When I discovered that Leeds United were playing the same night at Elland Road and I’d be able to get to the game, I was like a kid in a sweet shop.
It’s now a well known ‘secret’ that if Peterborough United folded I’d support Leeds. But as long-time talkSPORT listeners will know, I absolutely delighted in the fact that Posh beat Leeds in League One years ago - I well and truly wallowed in the glory!
I thoroughly enjoyed Wednesday’s show, the Ashes preview. Goughie interviewing Chris Woakes was a real highlight. Darren Lehman also came on to give his insight, which was fascinating, and my five best things Yorkshire has given sport caused a stir
Five best things Leeds has given sport, according to Adrian Durham
1. Leeds United Football Club
2. The sport of rugby league
3. Bramall Lane
4. Nicola Adams
5. The Hull rugby league derby
And at 7pm it was a dash to Elland Road. I arrived in good time and with the rest of the packed stadium watched an even first half in which Brentford could easily have taken the lead. That was followed by a second half in which the west London side seemed to give up on any idea of winning and tried to kill time for a goalless draw.
Brentford's time wasting thankfully backfired, and Leeds’ subs Helder Costa and Eddie Nketiah combined for the Arsenal loanee to tap in the only goal for three points and rise to the top of the Sky Bet Championship. It was hard-earned and well deserved.
Nketiah got the headlines and his zip and dynamism brought something Brentford struggled to cope with. But other Leeds players stood out on the night: midfielder Adam Forshaw was everywhere, centre halves White and Cooper looked classy and solid, while Kalvin Phillips is a Premier League player waiting to happen. He sits in front of the defence controlling everything, he always wants the ball, he sets the tempo, he smells the danger, he’s always on the cover, he finds the pass, and that pass is usually forward. I honestly believe if he was in the top flight, he’d be in the England squad, he’s THAT good. He can take a decent corner too.
Do Leeds belong in the Premier League? No, of course not, they have to earn the right to be there. Would the club and everything about it look at home in the Premier League? Absolutely it would - that’s undeniable.
But there is one big reason why neutrals should all be keen for Leeds to get promoted and it’s this: if Leeds go up this season, there’s a far greater chance of Marcelo Bielsa staying in this country. If you love football, you should be keen for him to stick around.
Bielsa has an ability to make players better; his teams are gorgeous to watch - even if it doesn’t always come off his teams are easy on the eye. He trusts young players on the pitch. He watches football, to the point where he knew Ben White, on loan and not spectacular at Peterborough last season, would be a player he could work with in his team this season.
In short, summing all this up, Bielsa openly and passionately CARES about football. And I think we should all cherish him for that in this country while we have the chance. He doesn’t do it for reputation or money or ego. He does it because he loves this wonderful game.
I’m always keen to see the greats live: I was lucky to see Kevin Pietersen’s spectacular last Twenty20 innings for Surrey, I’ve seen Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at their absolute peak, I saw Tiger Woods play at The Open when he had the world hanging on his every drive and stroke, I have seen Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City play orgasmic football. And I urge you all to go see Bielsa’s Leeds. A great manager, at a great club, in a great league, doing some great things. Do it.
Adrian Durham presents Drivetime on talkSPORT every weekday from 4pm until 7pm and hosts GameDay LIVE on Saturdays