Barry Douglas assesses rewards of Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa's demands

DEFENDER Barry Douglas says Leeds United and the club's 'different breed' of passionate fans are reaping the rewards of Marcelo Bielsa's demands.
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Leeds are finally working their way towards their Championship return with the EFL having set a provisional date of the weekend of June 20 to resume action in English football's second tier.

After ten weeks of training at home amidst the country's ongoing battle with coronavirus, Leeds stepped up to contact training this week having initially returned to Thorp Arch at the beginning of last week for tailored training adhering to strict social distancing rules.

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Douglas knows that will mean plenty of hard sessions under Whites head coach Bielsa, including the coach's famous murderball games, but Douglas says Leeds United Football Club are reaping the rewards of Bielsa's approach with their style of play and results on the football pitch.

DEMANDING: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.DEMANDING: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.
DEMANDING: Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa. Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images.

Leeds sit top of the Championship with nine games left and Bielsa's side hold a seven-point cushion in the division's automatic promotion spots as they seek a return to the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

Speaking in United’s ‘Ask’ series in association with Deliveroo, Douglas was asked what it was like playing under Marcelo and reasoned: "It is demanding I think is a good word.

"It's very demanding, mentally and physically, you need to be switched on and I think the fans and ourselves reap the rewards of that on a Saturday when they see the nice football and the intensity.

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"But they don't see what goes on behind the scenes or the hard work and the sacrifices we make.

"It's definitely a learning curve for us all, I've certainly never experienced anything like it and I don't think I ever will.

"He is unique in his own ways so it's a learning curve for everyone involved."

Assessing what it was like walking out at Elland Road, Douglas said: "It's a great atmosphere.

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"The fans are very fanatic, very passionate and I think you know that without even going to Elland Road, just the size and the stature of the club.

"But I think when you are in there and experiencing it first hand you realise how big and passionate the fans actually are.

"It's like a different breed of fans at Leeds so it will be good if we can achieve our goals and everyone gets to celebrate and take the club back where they belong."

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