Bielsa and Athletic call truce

Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa returned to training on Monday as the uneasy truce at the Basque club continues.

El Correo reports that the Argentine arrived for work at Lezama for the first time since coming back from holiday, following the controversy surrounding his bust-up with the site manager at Bilbao’s training facility when Bielsa made allegations that promised modification work had not been completed.

Athletic’s coaching staff have been putting the players through their paces for the past week and President Josu Urrutia is believed to be expecting a statement from Bielsa to make clear his intentions towards the club.

However, the former Argentina and Chile national team Coach, true to form, is taking his time over any decision, although it appears he is now willing to let things cool down after a crisis meeting with Urrutia and his directors on Friday night.

Bielsa is believed to have gone to the meeting with the firm intention of leaving his post but backtracked after positive talks with the board persuaded him to change his mind.

Still, the 56-year-old’s lack of contact with his players during the pre-season is nothing new as he acted in exactly the same manner on arrival at the club last summer, when all the physical preparation was left to one of his assistants, Luis Bonini, with the ball conspicuous by its absence.

Athletic now have just a few days to prepare for their first friendly match against Lyon in Grenoble on Friday.

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