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Publication date: Friday, October 2, 2020 2:30 AM
Marcelo Bielsa insisted that he was not Pep Guardiola’s mentor before the two coaches meet for the first time in the Premier League on Saturday.
Leeds take on Manchester City at Elland Road in a game that is advertised as ‘teacher versus pupil’, but Bielsa insists that his good friend Guardiola has always been his own man.
“I don’t feel like Guardiola’s mentor. It’s not just how I feel, it’s been proven not to be the case. ” Bielsa He said.
“If there is a coach who is independent in his own ideas, that is Guardiola. It’s not just because I say it is, it’s because their teams play like no other. “
Guardiola has repeatedly described Bielsa as the best coach in the world after their friendship was cemented in 2006 when the Spaniard traveled to meet the former Argentina coach at his ranch near Rosario.
They crossed swords in LaLiga during the 2011-12 season when Bielsa was in charge of Athletic Bilbao and Guardiola in his last campaign as Barcelona coach.
Bilbao de Bielsa drew at home with Barça 2-2 and lost 2-0 at the Camp Nou.
“The memories I have (of Guardiola’s Barcelona) are that they managed to neutralize our attempt to impose ourselves,” Bielsa said.
“Anyone who has faced Barcelona in those four years will give you the same answer. Many believe that it is the best club team ever created.
Back-to-back victories against Fulham and Sheffield United have moved Leeds to seventh place in the table after their opening day loss in Liverpool.
City, who beat Wolves on opening day, are ranked 13th and Guardiola criticized his players after a shocking 5-2 home loss to Leicester last Sunday.
It was the first time that one of Guardiola’s teams conceded five goals in his managerial career and questions have been raised about City’s title credentials.
“I’m never comfortable talking about an opponent’s weaknesses,” Bielsa said of Saturday’s opponents.
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“The season is very short and it is difficult to draw conclusions about whether they are weaker than before. Speaking in public about an opponent’s weakness is never comfortable. “
Leeds have declined to comment on reports from Bielsa’s press conference that their bid to sign the midfielder Michael Cuisance Bayern Munich had failed.
When asked about the French U-20 international, who was expected to complete a move this week, Bielsa said: “I’d rather talk about him when he’s officially our player.”
READ MORE: Alioski receives the challenge from Bielsa; Guardiola said what to expect from Leeds
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