Former Leeds United owner: 'I should have taken Marcelo Bielsa out after we finished ninth'

Andre Radrizani sold Leeds United to 49ers Enterprises. — semi-finished in the Premier League but reached his team's limits.

The Italian businessman who sold Leeds to 49ers Enterprises this week spoke of talks with Bielsa to eventually become Elland Road's director of football after the 2020-21 season, when the Argentine manager's contract ended. scored midway through the season as Leeds struggled with relegation.

«He actually said, 'You have to replace me or all the players because we can't do better if we don't make changes,'» Radrizzani told Sky Sports News. “He knew that the situation was at its limit. We decided to stay for one more year so that he would become director of football in addition to his coaching role.

“We were both aware of the risk and maybe then was the right time to make a change. I didn't have the courage to make that decision after I finished ninth in the league. For him, he also wanted to enjoy another season with the fans in the stadium.”

American coach Jesse Marsh was named Bielsa's successor and saved the club from relegation on the last day of the season, but Radrizani admits he should have fired him ahead of last season's World Cup.

«The tactics he displayed were sometimes a little confusing — not only for me, but also for the players,» Radrizani said. “We had situations where the winger played as a midfielder and things like that. Personally, I wanted to make a substitution before the Worlds, then I was persuaded to hold on.

I think it was a huge mistake since we had six weeks to make changes. Other teams used this period successfully, but in February we made changes and we had very few options.»

Radrizzani also says that sporting director Victor Horta made mistakes bringing in players without Premier League experience, although he took some of the blame for the signings that led to relegation.

The former Leeds owner also admitted that he used Elland Road as a guarantee in the deal to buy Sampdoria, but another solution was found . Fans expressed disapproval of his reign last season and he missed a game of the season due to stress which led to a «water bubble in the eye» which could lead to surgery.

«It was a very enjoyable time in my life, but unfortunately it didn't end the way I wanted it to,» he told Sky Sports News. «Now it is bitter to realize that the club has returned to the Championship, but in my six years I have achieved what I wanted.»