Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has admitted that Marcelo Bielsa's consistent demands for excellence can be "frustrating" at times.
Phillips is one of the front-runners to win the Championship Player of the Year award this season, having helped to put Leeds on course for automatic promotion before coronavirus brought football to a halt.
The 24-year-old, who has been converted into a holding midfielder by Bielsa, has been tipped to earn an England call-up as a result of his form, but he revealed that the renowned Argentine boss still demands more from him.
"He's never completely satisfied. He's always saying I can improve. That can be frustrating when you think you've played well, but those are the standards he sets," Phillips told FourFourTwo.
"I was surprised [by the positional change] at first. The season before he arrived, I'd scored seven goals, so I was a bit confused and disappointed when he spoke to me. I could hardly say no, though, could I, especially given his track record of improving players? He saw something in me and offered to teach me how to play a different role.
"I know the bar is incredibly high for international footballers, but I feel I'm on the border of that. Once Leeds have become an established Premier League side again, I'll be competing with the best. Hopefully I can do well enough to convince Gareth Southgate that I deserve a spot in his squad."
Phillips has made 172 appearances for Leeds since making his debut in 2015, including 34 this season.
