Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa reflects on nomination for FIFA's Best Coach

Bielsa is one of five nominees for the Best FIFA Men's Coach award for 2020 alongside Bayern Munich's Hans-Dieter Flick, Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp, Sevilla's Julen Lopetegui and Real Madrid's Zinedine Zidane.

The Whites head coach has been nominated for leading United back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years but the Leeds boss has been quick to hail the efforts of both his players and staff.

Asked about the nomination at Thursday's pre-Everton press conference, Bielsa said: "To be nominated is always a distinction. I appreciate it.

"But every time a manager is singled out the players are involved in this singling out because the coach is always an appendix of the players and also the technical staff because the construction of a football team is not solely the responsibility of the one in charge.

"This nomination is also for the technical staff and this happened in the sphere of a club like Leeds that is also recognised as a result of this.

"Whilst it is a nomination it can also be considered as excessive but any labour that generates a repercussion can have its praise or its criticisms so I appreciate all the recognition and I accept the criticism."

A FIFA statement said: "The five-person shortlist for The Best FIFA Men’s Coach 2020 award - based on their respective achievements during the period period between 20 July 2019 to 7 October 2020 - was compiled by a panel of experts in men’s football.

"Voting to decide the winner is equally weighted between fans, journalists, national team coaches and captains.

"The three finalists for each award will be revealed at a later date, with all award winners revealed at The Best FIFA Football Awards ceremony in Zurich on 17 December 2020."

United's fans can vote for Bielsa at the link HERE

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Thank you Laura Collins