Bielsa reveals Premier League snub before eventual Leeds move

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa has revealed how Swansea previously missed the chance to make him their manager.

The Argentine will see his Leeds side go top of the Championship if they make it four wins out of four by beating the Swans on Tuesday night.

But, if things had been different, the former Argentina and Chile coach might have been in the home team’s technical area at the Liberty Stadium instead.

Bielsa was contacted by Swansea after they axed Garry Monk in December 2015, but the Welsh outfit decided against moving for the 63-year-old and appointed Francesco Guidolin instead.

Bielsa explained: ”I was close to becoming Swansea boss three years ago. It was a real possibility. I was willing to work in Swansea but, at the end, they chose somebody else.

“I don’t remember very well, but I think it was because I told them I wanted to start at the beginning of the season, not come in the middle of one.”

The tactician also admits that he has found the Championship everything he expected it to be so far and is taking nothing for granted against the Swans.

He added: ”This competition has different kinds of difficulties, and you have to face each one fully prepared.

“The first game we played was at home to Stoke, who are similar to Swansea. The second was away at Derby, who are a team that belongs to the top six.

“The third game was against a Rotherham team that just got promotion from League One.

“Those games were all different and all difficult. They were very demanding, and I imagine the same for the game at Swansea.”

 

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