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Javier Mascherano declares his Marcelo Bielsa regrets
Argentine legend Javier Mascherano has been discussing his plans to advance into coaching and in Argentina about the managers who have influenced him in his career.
The former Liverpool and Barcelona star has worked under some of the best managers in world football, such as Pep Guardiola, Alejandro Sabella, and Rafa Benitez.
But he does also have some regrets at not getting to work more with the current Leeds United boss Marcelo Bielsa.
Mascherano was handed his Argentina debut in 2003 by Bielsa. At the time, Mascherano had not even played a single minute of action for his club River Plate, but the 19-year-old had impressed the current Leeds boss so much for the Argentina youth teams he was given a senior cap against Uruguay.
Mascherano has now spoken of his debt to Bielsa and his regrets at not getting to work with him more before he left the Albiceleste job in 2004.
“Surely he is among the best I have ever had. The problem is that I had Marcelo at a very young age and when you are so young you can retain little. I would have liked to have had him much more mature.
“My consideration for a coach who bet on me without having made his debut in a first-team is very high. I hold Marcelo in very high esteem. I was left with the thorn of not having had it longer and being more mature.”
Leeds United fans are certainly used to hearing players and coaches waxing lyrical about their first-team boss.
Indeed, he has already probably had a similar impact on plenty of the current Leeds United first-team.
Mascherano’s words just go further toward developing the near-mythical brilliance of the Elland Road supremo.