Pablo Hernandez says ‘key’ Leeds United moment fans couldn’t see live still gives him ‘goosebumps’

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Leeds United hero Pablo Hernandez had an outstanding career with the club, particularly under Marcelo Bielsa.

Pablo Hernandez is arguably the most popular Leeds United player for the period of 16 years spent outside of the Premier League from 2004-2016.

He may well have joined in 2016 at the age of 31 but Hernandez later became the brains and magic of Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds side during two glorious campaigns in the second tier.

Not only did he win promotion with Leeds, but Hernandez had a lasting impact on the club under the stewardship of Bielsa. He won Leeds United Player of the Year and/or the Players’ Player of the Year in 2017/18, 2018/19, and 2019/20.

Unsurprisingly, he was also a part of the 2018/19 Championship Team of the Season but his best moments in a Leeds shirt arguably came during the run-in during the COVID-19 lockdown, with Hernandez dragging Leeds over the line.

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Pablo Hernandez describes his ‘connection’ to Leeds and that Swansea goal

Hernandez’s admits his best career form was at Leeds, with Hernandez’s genius able to make something out of nothing for Leeds time after time.

In Hernandez’s final five Championship appearances of his career, he scored or assisted six goals. His influence was seismic for Bielsa’s side as either a right-sided winger or as the attacking midfielder.

But none of those involvements are more famous or spoken about than when Leeds beat one of Hernandez’s former sides 1-0 in the 89th minute. The 40-year-old Spaniard slotted the ball home against Swansea City in south Wales.

It took Leeds onto 84 points from 43 games, with West Bromwich Albion on 81 and Brentford and Fulham sat on 78 and 76 respectively. They knew that Premier League football was in sight.

Hernandez spoke to El Periodico Mediterraneo yesterday, and he explained his feelings on that moment but also on how he ‘connected’ with Leeds as a club almost instantaneously.

He said: “Garry Monk (a former teammate at Swansea) called me. I understood why they call it the sleeping giant: a huge club and a ferocious fan base.

“We connected from day one. I had two of my best years with Marcelo Bielsa: he was extremely demanding, especially mentally, but he improves you. We achieved promotion to the Premier League in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.

“My goal against Swansea in the 89th minute was key, and it still gives me goosebumps every time I watch it. We celebrated promotion by looking at the fans from behind the windows due to the restrictions.”

In the same interview, Hernandez has commented on Bielsa and leaving Leeds. But ‘El Mago’ will rightly be remembered by Leeds fans forever for that moment and many others in white, yellow, and blue.

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Marcelo Bielsa continues to have a huge influence on Pablo Hernandez’s career

Now, Hernandez is in interim charge of Castellon. Bielsa may well influence his managerial career, but Hernandez will take inspiration from Carlos Corberan as well — per his recent comments.

On Bielsa, Hernandez has previously said: “I feel tremendously lucky to have worked with him. 

“An incredible experience. Players who’ve been lucky enough to experience it know what I am talking about, there are many good coaches, but there is no coach like Bielsa. 

“It is something incredible, and the truth is that, what am I going to say? Probably my three best years as a professional have been with him, so I don’t have much more to say,”