Pascal Struijk recalls harsh, but brilliant Marcelo Bielsa lesson in Leeds United training | OneFootball

Pascal Struijk has explained how Marcelo Bielsa’s hardest training demands became the making of him at Leeds United.

“Amazing [to work under Marcelo Bielsa]. But very intense. Skills-wise, he’s the best I’ve worked with so far in terms of developing players.” He told the Leeds United podcast this week.

Now 26, Struijk is a mainstay under Daniel Farke and is nearing 10 years at the club after joining in January 2018. He also recalled Bielsa’s early sessions at Thorp Arch, when standards in training were non-negotiable.

If a drill was not up to scratch, especially for a 23s player stepping in, Bielsa would cut it short with “Pascal finished” and send him back.

It sounded brutal, contrasting with the charismatic coach many supporters adored and the chaotic, yet beautiful style his teams produced. Stuart Dallas has said the tactic tested reactions rather than undermining confidence, seeing how players responded the next day.

Struijk stayed throughout Bielsa’s reign, developing within that environment from the start. It was, he said, “a big part of building your mental strength, resilience”. Tough, precise methods, and a career that underlines why the balance mattered.

Source: Leedsunited.news