Leeds United kick off the Marcelo Bielsa era hosting Stoke City in the EFL Championship. The club has taken a punt on Bielsa as the controversial manager led France's Lille into freefall last season.
The club narrowly avoided relegation after his sacking. Even before taking the reins at Lille, Bielsa was appointed manager of Lazio only to back out of the contract two days later. The manager's last three jobs haven't gone well with him leaving Marseille over conflicts with management in 2015. Many supporters want to know if he can turn Leeds into Championship title contenders or if Bielsa will just walk away after a few months in charge.
Stoke are also debuting under a new manager as Gary Rowett takes over for the outgoing Paul Lambert. The Potters were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season. Rowett joined the club from Derby County after narrowly missing out on promotion. Derby were defeated by Fulham in the playoffs after winning the first leg at home. Rowett has strengthened the Potters with the signings of midfielders Tom Ince, James McClean and Oghenekaro Etebo, and goalkeeper Adam Federici. Stoke did lose several players from their Premier League campaign including top player from a season ago Xherdan Shaqiri.
The good news for Lambert currently is Jack Butland is still at the club. However, he may not play against Leeds as the goalkeeper may join Chelsea before the Premier League season. Star midfielder Joe Allen and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting are still at the club. If Rowett can hold onto his top players, Stoke have a shot at an immediate return to the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Leeds have brought in five players with the most notable being £10 million transfer Patrick Bamford. The striker tallied 11 goals in 41 games for Middlesbrough last term and helped the side reach the promotion playoffs. The 24-year-old has proven himself as a Championship caliber striker and Leeds pulled off a coup by adding him to the side. Bamford will pick up the slack left by Pierre-Michel Lasogga. The German scored 10 goals in 21 appearances in the Championship during a loan spell from Hamburg. Lasogga has returned to Germany to help HSV in their attempt to win promotion back to the Bundesliga.
>Leeds have also brought in exciting young Englishman Jack Harrison on loan from Manchester City. Harrison made a name for himself in Major League Soccer at New York City FC before Manchester City signed him. Harrison was loaned to Middlesbrough for the second half of the 2017-18 season, but failed to make a mark on the club in four appearances. Although he was a star in MLS, the Championship is a big step up in competition. Bielsa could get the best out of the young Englishman.
Bielsa's tactics will take time to get used to. However, Leeds should offer a style of play completely different to the other Championship clubs. Leeds will win in Bielsa debut and kick off the coach's era in style.