“Fear and loathing is what Leeds associate with the turn of the year,” said long-time Leeds correspondent Phil Hay, now working for The Athletic. Relegated from the Premier League in 2004, just three years on from reaching a Champions League semi-final, worse was to come as Leeds went down again in 2007 and spent three seasons in the third tier. “Bielsa and his staff cost £6 million (a year),” Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani told The Times earlier this season. Their descent down the leagues began with the huge debts amassed during Peter Ridsdale’s time as chairman, “chasing the dream” of winning the Premier League at the turn of the century. Betting on Bielsa is also a risky business, but one Leeds now must have faith in to come good.

Source: New Strait Times February 12, 2020 11:26 UTC