Leeds United's Marcelo Bielsa says he's getting lessons in football from Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder

Bielsa, regarded as one of the most innovative thinkers in world football, outlined his respect for Wilder’s methods ahead of Sunday’s meeting between the two clubs at Bramall Lane - a match United hope will deliver their first win of the season following defeats by Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa.

Despite making a frustrating start to the new campaign, Bielsa’s interest in United’s methods remains undiminished.

Explaining how he became intrigued by Wilder’s take on the 3-5-2 system devised by his fellow Argentine Carlos Bilardo when United and Leeds locked horns in the Championship two years ago, Bielsa said: “I remember from that point they had a manager with clear concepts and a team that was able to carry them out. The way that he manages and sets up awakens a lot of interest in me to learn from him. And I had already expressed this thought in the first season when we faced Sheffield United.”

“After a very good season in the Premier League last season, it shows we are going to be up against a team who is very well prepared.”

United finished ninth in the top-flight last term, after pipping Leeds to automatic promotion 17 months ago.

“All the games have something which makes them attractive,” Bielsa, who took Leeds up earlier this year, said. “In the case against Sheffield United, it is a derby and in particular against a very good team who have consolidated themselves and it’s a good opportunity to compare ourselves.”

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