‘Football is a party’: Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa admits he can’t wait for fans to be back in the grounds as behind closed doors football looks set to roll into 2021
- Marcelo Bielsa is longing for football’s post-pandemic ‘party’ to come back
- He has revealed his frustration at the absence of supporters from grounds
- Leeds’ 40,000 seater stadium has been empty due to Covid-19 restrictions
Marcelo Bielsa has admitted he’s longing for the time when football’s post-pandemic ‘party’ can get back into full swing.
The Leeds United head coach revealed he’s as frustrated as anyone at the continued absence of supporters from grounds due to the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions.Â
Elland Road would again have been packed to the rafters for the visit of Leicester City on Monday, but instead the soul-sapping sight of 40,000 empty seats will provide the barest of backdrops as the top levels of the game remain starved of the lifeblood of a vibrant live audience.
Marcelo Bielsa is longing for the time when football’s post-pandemic ‘party’ can return
Despite clubs doggedly maintaining the campaign for the return of a percentage of fans at a safe social distance, the current behind closed doors arrangements look set to continue into the New Year.
Bielsa concedes it’s a situation that has dampened the feelgood factor of Leeds ending their 16-year top flight exile, and the South American said: ‘It’s just my point of view of course, but there is no comparison when it comes to football with fans to football without fans.Â
‘The presence of fans during games increases the spectacle and adds something extra to the game.
Elland Road’s 40,000 seater stadium has been empty due to coronavirus restrictions
Leeds are set to welcome back skipper Liam Cooper from a two-match injury absence
‘You need that contact between the players and the supporters. It’s not the same for the players when fans aren’t there, the football’s not the same and it becomes less attractive.Â
‘Of course we know why fans are prevented from going to matches at present, but football is a party and it’s very difficult to have a party with everything that’s going on in the world right now.’
Leeds are set to welcome back skipper Liam Cooper from a two-match injury absence as they bid to build on a highly encouraging return to the top flight which sees them well-placed among the early pace-setters. Keen to maintain expectations at realistic levels, Bielsa added: ‘It’s too early at this stage to draw any conclusions as to who will do well this season after so few games have been played.’