Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has likened playing Blackburn Rovers to Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United side.
McKenna was speaking to Ipswich Town’s club media after their 4-3 win over Rovers at Portman Road on Saturday, where he claimed it is the most open game he has ever been involved in.
Prior to being named Ipswich boss back in December 2021, McKenna was part of Manchester United’s coaching staff under three different managers – Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.
Under Solskjaer, McKenna faced Leeds, with three meetings ending with scores of 6-2, 0-0 and 5-1.
Of course, Leeds lost both games and especially at 6-2, the scoreline really could have been anything that day.
Speaking in his post-match interview following Saturday’s 4-3 win over Blackburn, McKenna believes the only comparison he can make this weekend is with Bielsa’s Leeds side.
“What a game.
It was as open as I’ve ever been in.
The only comparison I can make is against Leeds under [Marcelo] Bielsa in the Premier League.
We knew they would were open, that they would attack and it would be difficult to stop them, but we also knew we would have a chance.
Blackburn are currently managed by Jon Dahl Tomasson, who is now entering his second season as manager at Ewood Park.
So far, only Plymouth Argyle, Norwich City and Southampton have been involved in more goals in the opening eight games of the season, with Rovers conceding 16 and scoring 12.
Southampton and Rotherham United are the only teams with a worse defensive record than them and it will certainly be an interesting match when Leeds face them later in the campaign.