Marcelo Bielsa has triumphed at Leeds, contrary to what he may say

Marcelo Bielsa is, undoubtedly, one of football's most fascinating characters.

The 65-year-old has had spells coaching in his native Argentina, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Italy, France and England, where he's been renowned in each country for his eccentric, extravagant style of coaching.

But while El Loco is anything but ordinary in his approach, that doesn't mean he's not revered by some of the best in the business. Pep Guardiola, Diego Simeone and Mauricio Pochettino, just three coaching greats of the modern game who have hailed Bielsa as one of the best bosses in the business.

Admiration for Bielsa is widespread, but he's perhaps thought of most highly by fans of his current employers, Leeds United. In the eyes of many, he's worked miracles at Elland Road - guiding the club back to the top-flight after a lengthy 16-year absence, giving the club a complete style makeover in the process.

However, while the club's supporters continue lavish him in praise, Bielsa has remained modest and, if anything, has been rather hard on himself.

Ahead of the clash with resurgent Chelsea on Saturday, the Argentine has said, in quotes carried by the Yorkshire Post, that he hasn't "triumphed" at the club, adding that he feels it would have been difficult not to achieve promotion from the Championship.

“To have been promoted (last season), it was very difficult not to have achieved this because the level of the team deserved it," he began. "Once we were in the Premier League, if we had come to the Premier League in position 10, nine, eight, seven or six or five to 10, to have achieved this would have been a valuable achievement.

“But we are not in these positions. We haven’t regularly been in these positions, so I don’t think anyone can describe it is successful and I don’t think there are many managers in football that have the legitimacy to stay in a job as long as they like."

It begs the question, is Bielsa right to be critical of Leeds' season so far? Or is he setting the ceiling too high for a group of players getting used to the gulf in quality between the Premier League and Championship?

Logic would suggest that Leeds, just five points adrift of the magic 40 point mark with 11 games remaining of the season, are overachieving.

Yes, a large amount of money was spent - on players like Raphinha, Rodrigo and Robin Koch, whom many promoted sides wouldn't have been able to attract - during the 2020 summer window, but those signings needed time to adapt, not only to the league but to Bielsa as well.

There are also few Premier League sides, if any, who can hold a candle to Leeds' pressing intensity and insatiable desire to attack. They play some of the most entertaining football in the division, and have one simple mentality; we're going to score more than you are. Okay, they've lost 14 games this season, but they've also won 11 - it really is win or bust.

Occasionally, that mentality leaves Leeds vulnerable at the back, and they have received the odd thrashing during 2020/21. But it's important for Bielsa to remember that his side have also dished out a fair amount of thrashings themselves, and games that they're involved in can often go one way or the other.

The fact he is disappointed with Leeds sitting in 11th place is merely an indicator of where he wants to take the club, rather than a reflection of the job he's doing. Fulham and West Brom, the other two sides promoted last season, are embroiled in a battle against relegation, while the Whites aren't even in that conversation.

He's got players who many would argue are Championship quality competing at the top tier of English football, and there's a flair and swagger that shows they're fully invested in what they're doing. If that's not a triumph, you begin to wonder what is.

A top half finish remains within reach, and if Leeds pull that off, Bielsa should look back on 2020/21 with pride, rather than with wonder and disappointment. Perhaps privately he'll give himself a pat on the back, but rest assured he'll continue to want more from his players publicly - it's the only way he knows.