Last Saturday my team, Leeds United, beat the Champions-elect, Manchester City. Leeds had three chances and scored twice.
It was put to the Leeds manager, Marcelo Bielsa, that Leeds could now hold their own against the traditional “top six” teams. He disagreed, countering with:
“My conclusions are not the same as yours. We haven’t been able to play as equals against the traditional top six. To anticipate when this will happen is not prudent. These types of things, more than announce them, you have to demonstrate them and up until now we haven’t managed it.”
Bielsa’s answer articulates very clearly that actions speak louder than words.
He and everyone looking honestly at the match knew something: Manchester City had dominated the game and, on balance, were definitely the better team.
He wasn’t complacent after the victory. In part, because he isn’t delusional.
We can’t fool people. Ok – maybe we can now and again. But not as a matter of course.
Neither can we fool ourselves.
We know that, if we are to improve, if we are to move closer to success, we need to turn up every day and apply ourselves.
Day by day.
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