Former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne has defended Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa over ‘spygate’ in an expletive-laden outburst on social media.
Bielsa has come under criticism for sending a member of his staff to watch Derby County’s training sessions in the run up to the Championship fixture between the pair, which took place on Friday evening.
The Argentine admitted he was the person who sent the spy in an interview given prior to kick-off, with Leeds going on to win the match 2-0 to extend their lead at the top of the second division table.
Various pundits have called Bielsa out over his actions, with many suggesting he cheated by breaking fair play rules, while there has also been a suggestion that Derby did not play as well as they can do due to the incident.
However, Gazza laughed off these suggestions in Twitter rant made to defend Bielsa.
He wrote: “Just wanting2say about the LEEDS head coach getting some crap about he had a spy watching how derby played ha.
“2all commentators sssh FFS when I played I did not give a f*** who spied on me FFS so i spy watched me,seen how I played I would play s**t,bull s**t accept it u got beat.
“sorry I’m fuming imagine me going in2 my manager saying so sorry4playing s**t because a spy at the gates was watching me train2all commentators are you’s getting paid extra4talking s**t& I’m sure frank lampard after the game said sorry guys we got beat because a spy watched u.”
Gazza then went on to add that spying has always been part of the game – highlighting Bill Shakly’s time at Liverpool as an example – before also suggesting that if players did not like being watched then surely Match of the Day, the hit BBC television show, should scare them.
He continued: “Bill shankly’s house over looked Everton’s training ground you telling me the Everton players said I don’t want2play against Liverpool because bill shankly seen me train I was spied on when I was 17yrs old so I packed in playing football,I got scared of match of the day xx.”
Leeds released a statement on Saturday to confirm that owner Andrea Radrizzani met with Derby chief Mel Morris to formally apologise for Bielsa’s actions. It was also stated that Bielsa and his staff will be reminded ‘of the integrity and honesty which are the foundations that Leeds United is built on.’
