Guardiola’s response
Pep Guardiola insists Sam Allardyce is ‘right’ after the newly-appointed Leeds United boss compared his football knowledge to that of Jurgen Klopp and Guardiola himself. Allardyce’s reign begins with a daunting trip to face Manchester City on Saturday afternoon.
Speaking after City’s 3-0 home win over West Ham on Wednesday night, Guardiola told the Manchester Evening News: “He is right. I want to be honest, look what happened with Neil Warnock in Huddersfield. These incredible managers, they have done this Premier League or this competition is better? It looks like now the young managers with the tactics.
Kevin De Bruyne faces fitness test before Manchester City host West Ham
“They are really good, they help us to be who we are. Look at Roy Hodgson with Crystal Palace, what they have done. They are really good, have incredible experience, they know the game perfectly.
“It will be tough [vs Leeds]. He has the charisma, will put on the pressure to the players and knows exactly what to do in these relegation battles. It looks like these type of old managers, now people with 35, 40, 45, ‘we invent football’. No, football is already created. These guys belong to the league, help us to do it. Neil Warnock, Huddersfield was last place and now already out of the dangerous positions.
“What Harry Redknapp has done in this country. There are many English managers who have done really well, you don’t have to be young to be a good manager. As much experience you have, you are good.”
Gnonto’s agent
Wilfried Gnonto’s agent has revealed that he expects the teenager to stay at Leeds United next season.
The 19-year-old has enjoyed an impressive debut season at Elland Road despite Leeds’ struggles in the Premier League. Gnonto has posted four goals and four assists across all competitions for the Whites since joining from FC Zurich on transfer deadline day in September 2022.
Gnonto has seen his playing time reduced since Javi Gracia took charge back in February, and started only his third game under the Spaniard in the 4-1 defeat at Bournemouth on Sunday.
Despite Leeds being in an alarming position in the relegation battle, agent Claudio Vigorelli anticipates Gnonto to continue his path at Leeds and possibly even extend his contract.
Allardyce’s demands
One job in the last five years may have put Sam Allardyce into the wilderness lately, but he’s not about to get on his hands and knees for longer than four matches at Leeds United. Quite the contrary, the 68-year-old would need terms and conditions meeting if he were to stick around next term.
With one of the most seismic summers in recent United history ahead, where league status and ownership issues will dictate everything, next season’s head coach feels a long way down the list of current priorities. First, keep Leeds in the Premier League and then see whether Allardyce is the right man.
The veteran manager had been asked what it would take for him to stay on beyond these coming four games and far from snapping the club’s hand off for a rare opportunity, Allardyce set out his requests. The former England boss is not getting out of bed in June for anything less than an improved squad with meaningful investment.
