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Leeds Manager Marcelo Bielsa Says He Has Serious Doubts Over The Future Of Professional Football

Leeds Manager Marcelo Bielsa Says He Has Serious Doubts Over The Future Of Professional Football

"What is clear, the calendar is so overcharged it doesn't bear in mind the development of the preparation."

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa says he has "serious doubts" over the future of professional football because of its hectic calendar and "constant" commercialisation.

It has been a tough start to the campaign for The Whites. After such an impressive start to life in England's top flight last season, they currently sit in 17th place having won just two of their opening 13 games.

The Argentinian manager acknowledges that his side have struggled in recent months but in a passionate pre-match press conference this week, Bielsa opened up on the wider impact a congested fixture list has had.

Ahead of the club's Premier League clash against Crystal Palace at Elland Road on Tuesday night, Bielsa said: "It brings me great sadness how football is deteriorating."

He added: "What is clear, the calendar is so overcharged it doesn't bear in mind the development of the preparation.

"That's why I have serious doubts over the future of professional football because it is constantly commercialised and the product every time is constantly worse.

"It's considered to sell more games but it ignores whether teams are in better conditions to offer better results. I use the terms that the industry of football uses but it's difficult for me to think in those terms."

As rumours swirl surrounding the possibility of having a World Cup every two years, Bielsa went on to use next year's tournament in Qatar as an example of busy schedules hampering preparation.

"The Premier League offers half of its players to the World Cup," Bielsa continued.

"It's interrupted ten days before the start of the World Cup. And the World Cup, which is the most desirable thing in football to play with the footballers and coaches of the national teams, the minimum possibility is of offering a developed team.

"The only thing that this generates is what's on show every time is worse."

Image credit: PA
Image credit: PA

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Topics: Leeds, Marcelo Bielsa, Football, Premier League