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It was the morning after the last game of the season and, for Brendan Rodgers, it happened again.
They spent another season in the top four, more than any other team, only to qualify for the Champions League and cross Leicester City’s fingers again.
Defeat Tottenham at home when a victory would have achieved it. They have driven twice.
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Brendan Rodgers revealed that Marcelo Bielsa helped him after Leicester crashed into the top four
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The Foxes lost to Tottenham on the final day of last season and Rodgers felt “numb” after that.
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No wonder Rogers felt numb. We have blown his side again. He needed a vacation, it was time to get away. But at first he had a visitor: Marcelo Bielsa.
The two coaches clashed on Sunday afternoon as the two teams experienced an uneven start to the Premier League season.
They had planned before Rodgers disappointed the last day of the meeting at Leicester training ground. The two talked about soccer. What can two tactical obsessions talk about?
Sometimes Bielsa spoke English through his translator, and other times Rodgers spoke Spanish, a language he had studied for six years prior to that in his career. In the end, Bielsa had given Rodgers some perspective.
Leeds coach Bielsa (above) arrived at the Leicester and Rodgers training facilities in the summer.
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“It’s a real psychedelic effect for me, not qualifying for the Champions League,” says Rodgers. ‘I spent a few hours with him and it was a breath of fresh air. He is a great man.
He agreed to come see our facilities and talk about soccer. I felt good. I got out of the conversation after losing the day before and before I went on vacation it was really nice to chat with him. I had a great morning with him.
There are few managers in the world who do not mention the name of Bielsa as inspiration. Pep Guardiola has it. So does Mauricio Pochettino, who played with Bielsa on Newell’s Old Boys and Espanyol.
Rodgers is no different. “I have followed his career since the days he was in Argentina,” he says. I have seen many of your sessions. He has an unwavering commitment to the way he wants to play. Sometimes it takes a lot of courage in this game.
Rodgers (left) and Bielsa will face off on Sunday as Leicester travels to Leeds and Island Road
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You heard it for yourselves, they are very open. But his commitment has faith ingrained in him. But he has values as a person. When you talk to him and listen to him, he has had a great career. It has a great influence on their methods. You see their enthusiasm. He loves football and this really shines. “
These feelings are mutual. Bielsa is now 66 years old, Rodgers 48. At that age, Bielsa could not lead Argentina, the country in which he was born, to Olympic gold after winning three league titles in his home country.
Bielsa believes that Rodgers is better than he is at this point in his career. Meanwhile, Rodgers led Leicester to winning the FA Cup for the first time, finishing fifth in a row in the Premier League, as well as two Scottish titles, two Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups with Celtic.
“I think Rodgers is better now than I was when I was his age,” says Bielsa. At that time, he had much less control of things than at this time. When I was his age, there were only three of us surrounding the whole team.
White coach Bielsa (second from left) admits that Rodgers is ‘better than me at his age’
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Now, as a coach, above the group of players, you also have to manage 25 other people in order to boost the team. In order to do what Rodgers is doing today, you have to be very capable.
While Bielsa has never won cups to match the praise he receives from his teammates, his influence has permeated every modern game manager. Rodgers also hopes people will remember him in a similar way.
“My top priority has always been educating and training the players to be their best and developing them,” he says.
“Hopefully, when I’m done, I’ll be seen as someone who has developed exciting players and teams that have played offensive soccer. And if I’m lucky enough to win some titles along the way, so be it. “
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