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| 'Loco' Bielsa during his four-year stint with the Chile national team |
With the powerhouse, and long-term target for Tottenham
Hotspur, Fernando Llorente leading the front line emphatically after levelling
terms on the evening following Wayne Rooney’s opener for the Red Devil’s, Oscar
de Marcos’ Barcelona-esc goal saw Bilbao take a, surprisingly, not-so-shocking
lead against United before Iker Muniain doubled their advantage late on. Rooney
may have netted a second for the home side in the dying embers of the
enthralling encounter giving Sir Alex Ferguson’s men a fighting chance in the
second leg next week, but credit must go to Los
Leones for a superb team performance that raised eyebrows from football
fans across Europe.
And much of the credit must go down to manager Marcelo Bielsa, who has guided the club to fifth spot in La Liga, just a solitary point off Levante and a spot in the Champions League places, while seeing them through to the final of the Copa Del Rey against the Blaugrana in May. The Argentine has continued to bolster his impressive portfolio at club level after a 13-year hiatus to take charge of Argentina and Chile national sides between 1998 and 2011.
His first full season under Bilbao has seen the club really
bolster their credentials across the continent and it is hardly surprising to
see the club performing so well, both domestically and in Europe. However, it
is these impressive performances that the players have been churning out that
has seen a number of the game’s big hitters’ stand up and take notice. Most
recently, Chelsea are believed to have taken a strong interest in the
progression Loco Bielsa, as he is so aptly nicknamed, has made during his stint
with the club.
As many football fans know, the Blues recently sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas due to poor results and performances by the club. The 56-year-old has since been heavily linked as the Portuguese tactician’s successor with owner Roman Abramovich keen to see similar performances like that of Thursday night at Stamford Bridge from the players.
As many football fans know, the Blues recently sacked manager Andre Villas-Boas due to poor results and performances by the club. The 56-year-old has since been heavily linked as the Portuguese tactician’s successor with owner Roman Abramovich keen to see similar performances like that of Thursday night at Stamford Bridge from the players.
“It will be hell for whoever succeeds him [Villas-Boas],”
former manager Luis Felipe Scolari recently proclaimed, and many feel compelled
to agree with him. Bielsa, despite his excellent repertoire at club level
management, would be foolish to take over the deserted reins at Stamford
Bridge, especially with Abramovich at the helm of the club. Only recently has
his name really began to emerge from the shadows once more, despite leading
Chile to an impressive campaign during the 2010 World Cup, but away from the
International scene, has begun once again to showcase his capabilities and he
should continue to bolster his portfolio with the Copa Del Rey finalists.
His career could be tarnished in football should he opt to
take over the vacant managerial spot with Chelsea, much in the same way Juande
Ramos’ was following an unsuccessful stint with Spurs. If things don’t go right
for him from the off, should he be approached and, in fact, take over, he will
have the media and, more significantly, the trigger happy oligarch breathing
down his neck. And for a manager who isn’t afraid to axe a player at the drop
of a hat, the likes of John Terry and Frank Lampard will possibly begin
throwing their toys out of the pram at the first sign of trouble.
The same could be said for England. The Football Association
may end up approaching the Bilbao boss following his excellent work with the
Lions as Fabio Capello’s replacement. Naturally, Harry Redknapp remains the
overwhelming favourite to succeed the Italian and is more likely to accept the
position at the end of the season. However, by some sheer stroke of luck
chairman Daniel Levy manages to convince the veteran manager to remain at White
Hart Lane, it has been speculated David Bernstein and his minions will cast a
watchful eye to Spain, with Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola
of Barcelona thought to be high on the shortlist.
Bilbao’s performance against the Red Devils in the Europa
League would have caught the interest of the four-man contingent charged with
replacing Capello and it could well see them cast an eye of the San Mamés over
the next few weeks. Again, Bielsa would be foolish to take over the position
with his reputation likely to be at stake from the off. The best the Argentine
could do is stick with Bilbao for the foreseeable future, especially with
Guardiola and World Player of the Year Lionel Messi singing his praises and
willing to accept him should the former Barca captain stand down from his
position with the Catalan giants.
A chance to take over, arguably, the game’s greatest team at
the moment would be too hard an opportunity to turn down and after working
wonders for his current club, the prospect of reinforcing Barca’s status as the
world’s best could be a positive step for Bielsa. Staying in Spain, and more
importantly with Bilbao, is the best move he could make right now.
Picture used from Deportes
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