Conte hails Bielsa as he parts ways with Leeds

Marcelo Bielsa

was dismissed by

after their disappointing defeat against

, and now Tottenham’s boss

Antonio Conte

has talked about the matter, insisting that the news upset him and that he sees Bielsa as an important manager and a master of his work.

"Honestly I’m very disappointed because we’re talking about an important manager and we are talking about a person that is a master for many managers, for many coaches in the past and in the present,"

Conte told reporters on Monday

.

"I think, yesterday when I read the news, this news hurt me. We’re talking, I repeat, about not only a manager with a great idea and vision of football and taught a lot to other people, especially people in this job, but at the same time I have great respect for him as a person and as a man.

"In every situation he showed great integrity and honestly in football it’s not always you can find this type of person. I’m really disappointed for this but on the other hand, I understand that the club has to make a decision and I know very well the owner and chairman.

"[Leeds owner] Andrea Radrizzani, he’s my friend and it was nice to read the words he used yesterday about Marcelo. He spoke about the mentality he brought to the club because he worked for three and a half years.

"After the first season when they lost the promotion in the semi-final they had a promotion and then a fantastic season and also this season they were out of the relegation zone, but I understand the club has to try to change a situation and the first person you can change at this moment is the coach. But for sure Andrea knows very well the value of Marcelo and what he did for this club in this three and a half years."

Pep Guardiola

has also talked about Bielsa’s departure from Leeds, insisting that the high-profile manager’s legacy will stay at the club.

"His legacy is there in Leeds’ city and the club and I am pretty sure with the players,"

he told reporters

.

"Unfortunately as managers we are subject to results and lately they were not good. But in the four seasons, he was spectacular to watch and I wish him all the best."

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