Marcelo Bielsa admired Aston Villa star John McGinn during his time at Leeds United, Gordon Strachan has revealed.
The legendary former Leeds United manager remains a heroic figure at Elland Road after ending the club’s 16-year absence from the Premier League.
Bielsa famously guided the Whites back to the Premier League in 2020, playing a breathtaking brand of high-octane football that even captured the attention of neutral fans.
Popularising his Murderball training drill at Thorp Arch, the Argentinian tactician implemented a tactical style that required immense physical output and intelligent footballers capable of relentless pressing.
What is your favourite memory of the Marcelo Bielsa era? Let us know in the comments 🙌
Bielsa’s McGinn transfer wish and Premier League title promise
McGinn is certainly one who fits that mould, and Strachan has now revealed a private conversation that proved the enigmatic tactician was a massive fan of the Aston Villa captain.
Assessing Scotland’s chances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the former Leeds United and Tartan Army midfielder waxed lyrical about McGinn, describing him as “phenomenal”.
Strachan then dropped the tactical bombshell regarding Bielsa‘s desire to have the midfielder in his ranks at Elland Road.
The 70-year-old, who is going to the World Cup as Uruguay’s head coach, apparently claimed that he would have won the Premier League if he had a team full of McGinns.
Speaking on The Sun’s World Cup preview panel, he said: “John McGinn has been phenomenal. He is such a wonderful player. As nice a guy as you can meet.
“I once spoke to Bielsa, and he said to me, Gordon, if I had 11 John McGinns I would win the Premier League.”
Besides Bielsa, who is YOUR favourite Leeds manager from the last decade? 🤔
- Uwe Rosler
- Steve Evans
- Garry Monk
- Thomas Christiansen
- Paul Heckingbottom
- Marcelo Bielsa
- Jesse Marsch
- Javi Gracia
- Sam Allardyce
- Daniel Farke
McGinn’s history with Leeds United
While a transfer to West Yorkshire never materialised for the midfield dynamo, McGinn features heavily in Leeds United lore.
He was a key part of the Aston Villa squad that played a controversial, fiercely contested match against the Whites in the Championship back in 2019.
The infamous day saw Bielsa order his Leeds players to allow Villa to walk through and score an equaliser after a controversial goal from his side.
McGinn ultimately won promotion via the play-offs that year, but Bielsa clearly never forgot the unique engine and talent of the Scot.
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