Sam Allardyce Backs Himself Against Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp
Key Highlights :
In an unprecedented move, newly appointed Leeds United boss Sam Allardyce has insisted that "nobody" is ahead of him in football management, not even Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp. The veteran coach, affectionately known as "Big Sam" in England, was appointed as Leeds' latest manager for their remaining four Premier League games of the season, immediately after Javi Gracia was relieved of his duties.
Allardyce has a reputation of helping sides steer clear of relegation, and his appointment is no different. Leeds currently sits 17th on the league table, level on points with 16th-positioned Leicester City and 18th-placed Nottingham Forest. With fixtures against Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur to come, Allardyce has backed himself to fulfil the "biggest challenge" of his career following a two-year absence from the game.
The former England head coach has hit out at critics, insisting he is as good as Guardiola, Klopp and Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. "Far too many people think I am old and antiquated, which is so far from the truth," he said, according to the Daily Mail. "I might be 68 and look old, but there's nobody ahead of me in football terms. Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta. It's all there with me. They do what they do, I do what I do. But in terms of knowledge and depth of knowledge, I'm up there with them. I'm not saying I'm better than them, but certainly as good as they are."
Speaking after on Wednesday night, Guardiola seemingly agreed with Allardyce's comments. "He is right. Look at Neil Warnock at Huddersfield, these incredible managers," the Spaniard said. "It looks like the young managers know the tactics and whatever, but they are really good. They help us be who we are. We created football? No. It was already created."
The Englishman's appointment has come with a bonus of more than £2.5 million (R57 million) on top of his basic salary of £500 000 (R11.4 million) for the four matches, according to The Sun. Should Allardyce succeed in keeping Leeds in the Premier League, he will be rewarded handsomely.
Allardyce has a long and illustrious career in football management, having previously managed the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Sunderland and Everton. His appointment at Leeds United marks a return to the Premier League, and the 68-year-old is determined to prove his worth. With a unique blend of experience and knowledge, Allardyce is confident that he can lead Leeds to safety.
The veteran manager may not have the same level of tactical prowess as Guardiola and Klopp, but he is certainly a safe pair of hands when it comes to managing a team in a relegation battle. Allardyce has an impressive track record of keeping teams in the Premier League, and he will be hoping to do the same with Leeds. With four games left to play, the Whites have a tough task ahead of them, but with Allardyce at the helm, they have a chance of survival.
