Barcelona ace Raphinha: Bielsa so important for me at Leeds | OneFootball

Barcelona ace Raphinha has paid tribute to his former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa.

Speaking in an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Raphinha claimed that without Bielsa's guidance there is a chance he may not have been where he is today and insists he will 'always carry' the Argentine with him.

He said: “He's a coach who helped me a lot from the first moment I arrived at Leeds. He always demands more, always demands maximum performance.

“He helped me get to the national team and helped me get to Barça. If it wasn't for his teachings, as a group or individually, I probably wouldn't be here.

“In addition to having a style of play that is always respectful of the ball, he seeks maximum performance in training and in games, he was an important person for me and for my career, I will always carry him with me.

“They [Bielsa and Xavi] are different, Marcelo has a unique way of working. It's the 'Marcelo Bielsa style', let's call it that. Every coach is different. Just as each person has a way of leading his life, each player and each coach is different in their work."