When Bielsa came in he split the squad in to two sets. One set were to be his squad, the others were to be sold or released. Klich was put in the leper squad and was deemed unwanted until an injury forced Bielsa to bring him over to make the numbers up. He impressed and became a key player. To sum up, Bielsa actually judged Klich wrong to start with.
.. crazy to think klich was statistically one of the top midfielders in the PL during our first season Back.
Klich Interview: What has Marcelo Bielsa been like for you as a manager – did he change your life?Enormously. I told him after we’d secured promotion in 2020 that he saved my career. I don’t know where I’d be if it weren't for him. I couldn’t get a break in the Bundesliga, even tried my luck in the German second division and generally couldn’t find my home until I came to Leeds. Bielsa created a new version of me as a player. I’ve listened to everything he’s said and it’s paid off.
My understanding of the players views on Bielsa is that largely they consider him a bat **** crazy genius who in many cases rescued them from championship mediocrity to PL players with PL salaries. It’s not surprising they’re grateful. Personally I think it was part ‘team strategy’ and part ‘pushing the boundaries’ fitness wise (pros and cons to that) that elevated the side rather than ‘improved’ the individuals as players. But a few chubby plodders got a streamlining in the process… klich being one.
Unfortunately not, as that only applies to out of contract players aged 23 or under, where any new contract offer must be, at minimum, worth the same as the player's previous contract with the club. Given that Gelhardt will be 25 when his contract expires, even if we offer to pay double his present contract, he can walk away on a Bosman and we would get not one penny, if he so wished.
