In a busy summer of football, one of the more intriguing news stories was the appointment of Marcelo Bielsa as Leeds United manager.
Considered by some as the 'Godfather of modern football' having influenced the careers of a number of top managers including Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone, the Argentine has been linked with a number of moves to the Premier League throughout his career. His move to the Championship caught many people off guard, and expectations were high at Elland Road as they kicked off their season today against recently relegated Stoke.
High-pressing and fluid positional play are two trademarks of Bielsa's playing style and they were both evident in Leeds' dominant first half display. They took the lead on fifteen minutes after an impressive back to front move involving six players was finished off by Mateusz Klich.
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The lead was doubled just before half-time when Stoke keeper Jack Butland failed to stop an effort from Pablo Hernandez.
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After a Benik Afobe penalty pulled one back for Stoke early in the second half, Leeds restored their two goal cushion when Liam Cooper headed in from a corner to settle the game 3-1 for the home side.
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An excellent start for Leeds who now must be full of optimism that Bielsa - known as 'El Loco' in the Spanish speaking media for his eccentricities - can guide them to their first serious push for promotion back to the Premier League after a fourteen-year absence.
For anyone yet to be charmed by Bielsa's tactical display out on the pitch, his hilariously entertaining interview for the Sky Sports cameras along with his interpreter would surely have won them over. Clearly having very little English as yet, Bielsa was still brave enough to make the effort to speak the local tongue.
As long as he and his interpreter can coordinate their head movements a little better in the future, today's work overall looks like a job well done.
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