---
title: "Leeds: Dean Jones makes Thorp Arch claim"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/dean-jones-claim-leeds-players-bielsa-change-tactics/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Leeds United"
published: "2022-02-27T16:05:50Z"
modified: "2022-02-27T16:05:50Z"
---

# Leeds: Dean Jones makes Thorp Arch claim

**Reliable journalist Dean Jones has revealed that a group of Leeds players approached Marcelo Bielsa over the possibility of adapting his style of play.**

### The Lowdown: Bielsa gone

Leeds fell to another heavy defeat on Saturday, shipping four goals against Antonio Conte’s Tottenham at Elland Road.

\[freshpress-poll id=”389254″\]

[Reports](https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1497577497751343112) following the loss suggested that the Argentine was on the brink of leaving the club, with [talkSPORT](https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1497679179227140097) suggesting on Saturday evening that Bielsa had indeed left Leeds United by mutual consent.

Leeds [officially](https://twitter.com/LUFC/status/1497889392018481152) confirmed the news on Sunday morning, with [Fabrizio Romano](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1497890593040646148) revealing that Jesse Marsch is one step away from being named as Bielsa’s replacement.

### The Latest: Jones’ comments

Speaking to *The Transfer Tavern*, Jones revealed that Bielsa rebuffed an approach from a ‘group’ of Leeds players in regards to a change of style. He said:

> “Bielsa was a bit too stubborn for his own good – I was told a group of players approached him about adapting the style of play but he wouldn’t listen to them. Moments like that go against you if results are bad.”

\[freshpress-quiz id=”389016″\]

### The Verdict: Interesting…

The Whites have made a huge gamble by sacking Bielsa with just 12 league games to go this season. Although the team was going through a woeful run of form, they have been [without three key players](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/leeds-united/ausfallzeiten/verein/399) in Patrick Bamford, Liam Cooper and Kalvin Phillips since December.

What is interesting is that a group of players apparently wanted him to make a tweak to his system, something to which Bielsa understandably wasn’t willing to agree.

Leeds always struggled in [January and February](https://twitter.com/AndrewHaigh/status/1497680594473467907) during Bielsa’s time in charge, so if Marsch (or whoever is appointed) doesn’t lead the club to survival after the exit of the [much-loved Argentine](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60456754), you’d expect that the Whites board will have plenty of questions to answer in the summer.

***In other news: [‘I’m told’ – Phil Hay drops hint of possible return date for injured Leeds duo](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-news/phillips-bamford-injury-return-dates-phil-hay/)***