Gordon Strachan reveals Marcelo Bielsa’s verdict on signing John McGinn for Leeds United | OneFootball

Gordon Strachan says Marcelo Bielsa wanted Aston Villa captain John McGinn at Leeds United and rated him so highly he made a striking claim.

“John McGinn has been phenomenal. He is such a wonderful player. As nice a guy as you can meet,” Strachan said. He was speaking on The Sun’s World Cup preview panel.

“I once spoke to Bielsa, and he said to me, Gordon, if I had 11 John McGinns I would win the Premier League.”

Strachan was discussing Scotland’s prospects for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Bielsa, 70, is going to the World Cup as Uruguay’s head coach.

Bielsa remains revered at Elland Road after ending a 16-year exile from the Premier League in 2020. His sides pressed relentlessly and he popularised the Murderball drill at Thorp Arch.

McGinn also figures in Leeds memories from a fiery 2019 Championship meeting with Aston Villa. After a controversial Leeds goal, Bielsa instructed his players to allow an equaliser. McGinn went up via the play-offs that season.

Source: Leedsunited.news