https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/03/31/leeds-star-rodrigo-admits-doubt-over-bielsa-tactics/
Leeds attacker Rodrigo has told
BBC Radio Yorkshire that Marcelo Bielsa’s tactics of playing man-to-man proved only hampered the Whites – admitting that Jesse Marsch’s style allows Leeds to play with more energy.
Bielsa was sacked towards the end of February after a dismal run of results – and a huge amount of goals conceded. Since then, American gaffer Marsch has come in and changed the system, playing more zonally in defence.
He has more structure, but still with the freedom of a Bielsa side in attack. Leeds have suffered losses to Leicester City and Aston Villa, but secured crucial late wins over Norwich City and then Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Speaking out about the difference in style, Spain international Rodrigo – who was signed during Bielsa’s era – believes Bielsa’s man-to-man drained the energy of the Leeds players and affected them going forward.
"We had this one-v-one marking that maybe was penalising us too much, especially in defensive moments because our position is always a function of the opponent,”
Rodrigo told the BBC, on Bielsa’s tactics.
“I think now that the methodology, the way of play change, and because everyone is occupying the zone, and share better the spaces in the field. So maybe [it] gives us more energy to defend and to attack as well"
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This isn't a dig at Bielsa. This is evidence that Rodrigo was unhappy toward the end. He was regularly benched or substituted and was regularly sulking as he went off and at times petulant in the direction of Bielsa. He'd took his fellow Brazilian Raphinha under his wing and his form suffered too around this time.
This article was 1 month after Bielsa left.