Sam Allardyce addressed the media ahead of Leeds United’s crucial trip to face Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
Sam Allardyce used his first press conference as Leeds United manager to inform the board that he would consider taking up the job on a permanent basis. The ex-England boss also claimed to be surprised by the buoyant mood as he took training on Wednesday following a two-year absence from professional management.
Outside the relegation zone on goal difference and with four tough Premier League fixtures ahead, Leeds turned to perennial firefighter Allardyce and ended Javi Gracia’s torrid two-month reign in the dugout.
Supporters waited eagerly for Allardyce’s interpretation of events at Elland Road as he sat down to discuss the situation with reporters on Wednesday, ahead of his side’s daunting trip to title-chasing Manchester City at the weekend.
And although Allardyce is reportedly set to bank a healthy sum if he keeps the Whites in the top flight over the forthcoming four-game period, the 68-year-old has refused to close the door on staying at the club if the brief stint proves successful.
“Never say never,” he stated. “It depends on what happens at the end of the four matches and what the conversation is all about. It depends on how I feel and, more importantly, how the wife feels.”
On his first training session, Allardyce admitted that he had not yet had time to get into his tactical set-up, but claimed to be surprised that the group of struggling players were not more miserable when he arrived. “I’ve seen quite a positive attitude,” he added.
“I would’ve expected them to be a bit more miserable than what they were. First impressions are that they are desperate to do better and that of course needs a bit of support and guidance, and breeding a bit of confidence.
“Technically and tactically we’ve not got into that much. Generally, as a new manager, you expect a bit more from the players than before. You come in and they think, I need to impress my manager to keep playing.”
Allardyce went on to make it clear that shoring things up at the back will be key to Leeds’ survival hopes over the remainder of the season. Under former boss Gracia, the Whites set a new record in April for the number of goals conceded by a Premier League side in a calendar month (21).
After Saturday’s trip to the Etihad Stadium, which Allardyce jokingly described as ‘easy’, Leeds host Newcastle the following week before matches against West Ham and Tottenham to round off the campaign.
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