Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan has claimed that Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa will not quit the club after he skipped the start of their pre-season tour Down Under.

The Argentine coach was understood to be annoyed by the trip to Australia and the detrimental impact he felt it would have on his preparations for the new season.

The Leeds manager controversially did not join his squad for the first part of the tour and reportedly opted instead to watch Liverpool's pre-season victory against Bradford City at Valley Parade.

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan commented that he did not think the 63-year-old's actions suggested that he would be departing Elland Road anytime soon.

He said: "I don’t think Marcelo Bielsa is walking away from Leeds.

“That’s not going to happen, but he is not scared to voice his opinion over the Australia tour.

“This is not his plan for pre-season. I can understand why he would be annoyed.

"Bielsa signed his new contract (at the end of May) knowing the tour was scheduled, but that doesn’t mean he would have agreed with it.

"I know he has abruptly walked out on clubs before when he’s been unhappy, but I don’t see that happening here.

"He will be focused purely on winning promotion and going one better than last season."

The Verdict

Bielsa is a radical coach who likes things his own way and in many ways, his absence shouldn't worry Leeds fans because it is not out of character.

With the Argentine coach at the helm, however, there may always be a slight worry because of his history of walking out of clubs.

At Marseille, he quit after the first game of his second season, while a year later at Lazio he left after two days because he felt things weren't right.

Bielsa has done a brilliant job at the Yorkshire club, taking a team that finished 13th in 2017/18 to a third-place finish last season, but he will always bring some controversy – both the club and the fans are going to have to accept that.