Lineker and Neville give contrasting views on Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds sacking

Gary Lineker and Gary Neville have offered very different viewpoints on Marcelo Bielsa after he left Leeds on Sunday morning.

The Argentine coach parted company with the Yorkshire outfit following the 4-0 defeat to Tottenham at Elland Road.

It leaves Leeds 16th in the Premier League and just two points above the relegation zone.

Bielsa was in to his fourth year at the helm and the expectation was he was due to move on when the current campaign ends.

However the Leeds hierarchy have opted to make a change ahead of the business end of the season, with relegation fears growing.

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Bielsa's legacy in west Yorkshire has long been cemented after he ended their 16 year exile from the top flight by winning promotion in 2020.

Leeds secured a top half finish last term playing a brand of football that captured the imagination, which has left its mark on Lineker.

He tweeted: "He brought a lot to our game and did so much for @LUFC. He entertained us with his swashbuckling football. Good luck to him."

Bielsa helped enhance the careers of Kalvin Phillips and Patrick Bamford, two players whom he inherited in the Championship and has transformed in to England internationals.

Several other Leeds stars have hailed the former Athletic Bilbao boss for furthering their careers.

Neville however, whilst crediting the Whites with constant entertainment, accused Bielsa of showing "disrespect" to the opposition by refusing to show any kind of pragmatism during this, troubled, campaign.

He said on Sky Sports: "The fact of the matter is, in the past few weeks and months it has become really desperate.

"You go from admiration to despair watching them, thinking they're not exciting anymore, they're really bad.

"They've been really bad defensively - conceding so many goals and chances. No respect for the opposition, we know that Bielsa has his values and principles which will never change, but there didn't look to be a lot of respect for opposition players."

Jesse Marsch, formerly of RB Leipzig, is the heavy favourite to take over with Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani claimed the decision, not matter how tough, was made in the club's best interest.

He said: "This has been the toughest decision I have had to make during my tenure at Leeds United, taking into account all the success Marcelo has had at the club.

"With Marcelo as our head coach, we had three incredible campaigns and the good times returned to Elland Road. He changed the culture of the club and brought a winning mentality to us all."

He then added: "However, I have to act in the best interest of the club and I believe a change is required now in order to secure our Premier League status.

"Recent results and performances have not met our expectations."