At the end of his first press conference as Leeds United manager, Marcelo Bielsa was asked a final question.
It was a mischievous one, too, and came from a Spanish journalist who quizzed one of the world’s most innovative and widely-respected coaches about two of his predecessors at Elland Road.
Whose philosophy did you prefer Marcelo, Don Revie or Brian Clough?
Bielsa, who has signed a two-year contract on an annual salary in excess of £2million, answered with all the diplomacy he had shown during the previous 80 minutes.
“In terms of winning the right way, I prefer to lose than cheat or play tricks,” said the 62-year-old Argentina, who spoke through a Spanish translator but will undergo English lessons.
“I prefer beautiful football rather than over-pragmatic football.
“You’re not allowed to play outside the rules, it doesn’t bring you trophies. Playing well brings you closer to winning things.”
Leeds have landed a major coup by recruiting the former Argentina boss who has also managed the Chile national side plus Espanyol, Athletic Bilbao, Marseille, Lazio and Lille.
The fallen Yorkshire giants have been out of the Premier League since 2004 but Bielsa’s appointment has encouraged hopes they can finally return to the promised land.
“It was a case of me convincing myself to come here,” Bielsa told the assembled media in the Gary Speed Suite at Elland Road’s East Stand.
“No-one had to convince me. I was convinced by the strength of Leeds United as a club and an institution, and on the field in a sporting sense. I looked at things from a football point of view.
“I’m very meticulous and careful in these processes. Having spoken with Victor Orta and the president (Andrea Radrizzani) I found two people very keen to look at the direction of the club in a sporting sense.
“I was very conscious they weren’t going to promise something that they couldn’t fulfil so I wanted to describe every detail about me from the word go so that they would not be surprised by anything.
“It’s imprudent to promise something when there are so many uncertainties, but at the same time not to be impossible dreaming about that happening.”
Bielsa’s spells in charge of Lazio and Lille were both very short lived with the coach – nicknamed El Loco or ‘The Madman’ – walking out on Lazio after just two days in the manager’s hot seat.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has described Bielsa as the “best coach in the world” while Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino played for Bielsa at Newell’s Old Boys, describing the 62-year-old as “like my football father”.
Bielsa played those compliments down, saying: “I don't want to be accused of false modesty. Guardiola is the best manager in the world and his ideas have been created by he himself.
“Pochettino? He's built his own career and style which is unique to him.
“We almost have an obligation as managers to put into place what we believe in.
“We cannot have obligations in other people to believe it if we don’t believe in it ourselves.
“I believe that the players have enough ability to take on board what I’m saying and to take on board my beliefs and actions on the field.
“As regards what the fans can expect, I think they want protagonists on the field rather than just talking about what might happen I want people to take the game by the scruff of the neck - time with possession on the ball rather than fighting to win it back.”
Asked about his expectation of promotion next season, Bielsa said: “It’s imprudent to promise something you cannot be totally certain of.
“But at the same time, it would be impossible not to be dreaming about that. What drives you is having the desire, hope and belief that you can carry out what everyone wants.”
Bielsa, who revealed as many as 15 players could leave Leeds, has watched all 51 games that his new team played last season and is targeting new players in “four or five positions”.
Life at Elland Road under Bielsa should be quite some ride.
Leeds fans should buckle up and hold on tight.
