Marcelo Bielsa says he is grateful for Leeds chairman Andrea Radrizzani’s comments after initial talks over the head coach’s extended deal.
Bielsa steadfastly refuses to discuss his future until the end of the season due to his preference for signing one-year contracts.
Radrizzani said last week in an interview with L’Equipe that he was hopeful the two parties would reach an agreement.
“Any reference to this subject, I prefer to make after the competition has finished,” said Bielsa, whose side bid to extend their six-game unbeaten Premier League run at Brighton on Saturday.
“I appreciate the words of the owner with regards to my continuity, but I agree with what he said about Leeds being prestigious above any others.
“Due to the solidness of this organisation, they have the facility to make correct decisions.”
Bielsa is in his third year as head coach at Elland Road. Leeds lost in the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-finals in his first season before he guided them back to the top flight for the first time in 16 years in his second.
He has transformed the club from a mid-table Championship outfit into top-10 Premier League challengers.
Radrizzani told L’Equipe there was “a common will to keep going” and that Bielsa was “satisfied with his relationship with the club’s management”.
“Once again, we are very happy with him and we hope to extend him,” Radrizzani said.
“But you also have to understand that Leeds United is bigger than Marcelo Bielsa.
“If one day, for whatever reason, we had to split up with Marcelo, that wouldn’t change our goal, which is one day to put Leeds back to where they were, so that they can once again play in the Champions (League).”
During Leeds’ six-game unbeaten run they have drawn against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United and beaten Manchester City.
They are currently ninth in the table and will be boosted at Brighton by the return to contention of club record signing Rodrigo.
The Spanish forward has made just one appearance since mid-March due to a muscle injury he initially sustained in the win at Leicester in January.
Leeds will still be without Raphinha though. The Brazilian winger limped out of his side’s shock win against City at the Etihad Stadium with a badly bruised thigh.
Brighton, who have yet to ensure their Premier League safety, won 1-0 at Elland Road in January and Bielsa believes they are in a false position in the table.
“Results sometimes coincide with the performances and other times they don’t,” Bielsa added. “Brighton is a team unfairly in the bottom part of the table.
“All the values you can analyse, they all position (Brighton) higher than (the position) they occupy.”
