Andrea Radrizzani provides Marcelo Bielsa contract update and explains Leeds United's plans for Premier League

CHAIRMAN Andrea Radrizzani says he is sure Marcelo Bielsa will want to stay on as Leeds United head coach with talks about next season in the Premier League planned for the coming days.
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Bielsa took the Whites head coach role in June 2018 by signing a two-year deal with the club maintaining the right to extend or terminate the deal at the end of year one.

Affter United's heartbreak of defeat to Derby County in the play-offs semi-finals of May 2019, Bielsa met with United’s board of directors towards the end of May to express his intention to continue.

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Leeds then announced that Radrizzani had officially exercised the option to extend Bielsa’s contract for a second season and 14 months later Bielsa has taken the Whites to the Premier League.

LEADER: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa masterminds another victory in Sunday's Championship clash at Derby County. Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Wire.LEADER: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa masterminds another victory in Sunday's Championship clash at Derby County. Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Wire.
LEADER: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa masterminds another victory in Sunday's Championship clash at Derby County. Picture by Mike Egerton/PA Wire.

United sealed an automatic promotion place on Friday night without even kicking a ball as second-placed West Brom fell to a 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield Town and Leeds were then crowned Championship champions the following day as third-placed Brentford also slipped up 1-0 at Stoke City.

In their first game as champions, Leeds recorded an impressive 3-1 victory in Sunday's clash at Derby County despite Bielsa making seven changes to the side.

United will now end their 16-year exile from the Premier League in Wednesday's season finale at home to Charlton Athletic but all eyes are already on next season and Radrizzani is confident Bielsa will stay on as Whites head coach.

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"We will meet in the next days," said Radrizzani speaking on Sky Sports, asked if talks had began about a new contract for Leeds' head coach.

"We always manage the decisions very calmly and nicely and I am sure he will like to stay and we are very pleased he stayed to enjoy the experience of the Premier League next season."

Hailing the impact of United's head coach since his arrival, Radrizzani said: "I knew we needed a leader.

"We needed someone that could lift up the value of our squad and and he did it.

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"He also changed the culture of our club so I am very glad of the decision and we are working very well together."

Sunday's 3-1 success at Pride Park put Leeds on to 90 points for the Championship campaign with Radrizzani's side heading back to the Premier League for the first time since 2004 in style.

United's Italian owner says a lot can be learned from Sheffield United's first season back in the top flight with the Blades currently riding high in eighth.

Pressed on whether Bielsa would want to sign players and asked about the budget, Radrizzani said: "I think with Victor Orta and Marcelo we will sit down in the next days.

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"We have been working for the last three or four months already to plan the next season in both scenarios and obviously we are are glad that we have the best scenario to do now.

"We know we will need some players to enforce the squad but at the same time we believe we believe we have the base and the foundation for a strong team and the last year is showing that a club who comes up with an idea and an identity and a structure and maintains that like Sheffield United can perform better than others that change a lot.

"We will be careful but we need to do something for sure."

Assessing the feeling of sealing first promotion and then the title this weekend, Radrizzani beamed: "It is an amazing feeling, great.

"For two days I have been smiling to everyone and I am really enjoying the time."

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Thank you Laura Collins