, “I personally think it’s wrong” – Leeds United “Spygate” scandal displeases Blackburn Rovers boss

“I personally think it’s wrong” – Leeds United “Spygate” scandal displeases Blackburn Rovers boss

The “SpyGate” scandal surrounding Leeds United and Marcelo Bielsa has been a common headline over the past week, after an employee of Leeds United was found outside the Derby County training ground prior to their 2-0 win over Frank Lampard’s side.

Instead, Bielsa went through an in-depth discussion about how he has in fact spied on all his previous opponents so far this season. He showed those in attendance his research on teams and players, using his analysis on Derby County and their players as an example. Bielsa’s research collected over time included information on which positions Derby players had played, including how long they had played there down to the minute.

Those in attendance described the briefing as a masterclass in football coaching.

Prior to the conference, Blackburn Rovers boss Tony Mowbray spoke to the Lancashire Telegraph regarding the scandal. It is safe to say that the Blackburn Rovers man is not a fan of Bielsa’s spying tactics and hopes it will not impact the game negatively in the long run.

“I’m pretty conscious of not becoming a mouthpiece on it, but I have been disappointed that a lot of ex-players have de-valued it and laughed it off as if it’s commonplace,” Mowbray said.

“As a coach, I think there’s a huge amount to be gained by knowing what the opposition is before the game kicks off. At the end of the day, I think it’s wrong.

“The Football Association and the EFL need to deal with it, not be laughed off, as if it’s okay to send an employee and write down their team and their tactics.

“Were they in the bushes at Brockhall before we played Leeds? Is it okay if they are?

“I would love to know the team of everyone we played so I could change my team. If they had a full back who is great with the ball but can’t run then I’d be playing Adam Armstrong up against that full back, otherwise I might have Elliott Bennett running up and down that line matching him.

“If I knew before kick off then I would have selected my team accordingly, based on the strengths and weakness of the opposition.

“You don’t know. That’s one of the beauties of football, you have to adjust as the game unfolds.”

Mowbray is hoping that there is action taken against Bielsa, as he fears it could have an impact on the game in the long run.

“I say that to my 14-year-old son, go and find the little slow kid and play on that side of the pitch against him because he is fast and strong and can just run past him and score lots of goals,” he added.

“That’s what football is about, you have to use your assets.

“I personally think it’s wrong. Why don’t we employ someone, give him £20,000 a year and his only job is to take his binoculars to go and send him to every team’s training ground? Or get someone who’s really good with a drone and get him to take it to take it to every team’s training centre and tape their whole session, set pieces, who’s playing, who’s not, and I will sit and watch it on Friday night and pick my team on a Saturday morning.

 

“Maybe 20 or 30 years ago fans could come in and watch training but I don’t think any manager would now let anyone come in and watch training on a Friday because he does his team work and preparation on a Friday.

“It’s bigger than what we think.”

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