Marseille head coach Andre Villas-Boas has claimed that it is “a scandal” that Marcelo Bielsa has been nominated for The Best FIFA Football Coach award.
Bielsa, who is a favourite in the south of France, having once had the post that Villas-Boas now occupies, led Leeds to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.
In FIFA’s eyes, this was sufficient for the popular Argentine to be elevated to the status of nominee for the year’s most prestigious coaching award.
He is nominated alongside four others: Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, who led his side to La Liga, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who ended his side’s wait for the domestic league title, Julen Lopetegui at Sevilla, who won the Europa League, and Hansi Flick, whose dominant Bayern Munich side claimed a treble.
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Villas-Boas believes that it is ridiculous that Bielsa should be among such names – particularly when, in his opinion, there is one glaring omission.
“That PSG boss Thomas Tuchel isn’t in the top five coaches is a scandal,” he said at his Friday press conference. “FIFA are sleeping.
“Bielsa? He has to win a prestigious title. But he’s not in the top five coaches in the world in 2020. It’s a scandal. He won the championship!
“Tuchel won four trophies plus reached the final of the Champions League.”
Bielsa has enjoyed a cult following for many years due to the style of play, which is open and relentlessly energetic.
His Leeds side have made a positive impression since winning promotion to England’s top flight. They are 14th in the standings, having picked up three victories already.
Crucially, though, the Elland Road side find themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone.
They will tackle Everton at Goodison Park in their next clash on Saturday.
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