Marcelo Bielsa’s blessing paved way for Carlos Corberan to take over at Huddersfield Town

After working with the vastly-respected Leeds United supremo for two years, Corberan was eager to strike out on his own when the opportunity arose at neighbouring Huddersfield and his discussions with the Argentine further vindicated his desire to say yes.

His former club Leeds may have now left the Championship, but Corberan’s excitement at the challenge of leading his new employers into the forthcoming second-tier campaign is profound.

He has pledged that his Huddersfield side – who start the league campaign with an attractive looking home game with relegated Norwich City on September 12 – will adopt a possession-based energetic style of play and be brave on the ball as Town seek to reconnect with supporters following a sterile past two seasons.

On receiving Bielsa’s blessing, Valencia-born Corberan – speaking to the press for the first time on Friday afternoon – said: “He respected the work we did together and was happy because he knew I had a desire to be a (head) coach when I started work with him. He made me feel he was very happy for me to take this step.

“With Marcelo, I had a very honest conversation in both directions when I was very close to having the opportunity to come to this club.

“I was very honest and said it was my idea (to come) and I had the support of him because Marcelo is someone who is never going to stop the development of any player and coach that was working with him.

“I feel a high level of happiness that he felt. When someone gets what he wants, he is very happy and the respect he showed me and the commitment and support was something very positive.

“We worked two years together and I tried to give my best to him.

“At a lot of moments in my life, I have had to make decisions and always, I feel these type of challenges and as a coach, I do not want to feel comfortable. I am up for the challenge and feel I have the talent and desire to take this opportunity.”

On the playing style that fans can expect, Corberan continued: “I want our supporters to recognise their team. It is something that is very important.

“We want to try and have control of the ball as you have more control of the game. We want to dominate the game and a lot of situations.

“Our idea is to be a brave team and do not speculate for the result, but try and go looking for it from the first minute until the end.

“It is a brave idea, but we have enough players with the conditions and skills to do it. We want to command games.”

An ability to finish games is also paramount in the unforgiving Championship and it remains to be seen if last season’s top-scorer Karlan Grant is still at the club by the closure of the transfer window – with plenty of speculation surrounding the striker’s future.

Corberan, who confirmed that Flo Hadergjonaj and Ramadan Sobhi are close to leaving the club, admits he is not surprised by that development, but says that the ex-Charlton forward’s commitment has not been in doubt.

He said: “First of all, I can understand why clubs are interested in him because I was following last year and he scored 19 goals.

“It is something that is normal and sometimes the players need challenges and want to keep growing in their careers. But now, I continue working with him and he is with the squad.

“As with all the players here, I will work with them from the first day until the last day. I will try to help them continue growing and challenge them to improve.

“Any player who wants to make something important will not respect themselves a lot if they do not work hard or they do not have ambition (to improve as a player). Now, Karlan is showing to us why he did what he did here at Huddersfield (last season).”

Meanwhile, Town will be without talisman midfielder Lewis O’Brien for three to four weeks with a quad injury.

Corberan also confirmed that Jonathan Hogg (hip) could be out for a couple of weeks while young goalkeeper Ryan Schofield is to undergo thumb surgery and could be sidelined for the next couple of months.

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James Mitchinson