Topics: Sam Allardyce, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Premier League, Manchester City, Sir Alex Ferguson
Leeds manager Sam Allardyce has called his critics "a bit thick" after using a "great" tactic he picked up from former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Last week, ahead of Leeds' Premier League clash against Manchester City, the former Bolton manager claimed there was "nobody" ahead of him in football terms, adding: "Not Pep, not Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta,"
Then, just days after making those bold comments, Allardyce backed himself again.
After being asked: "Do you feel if you were in charge of Man City you could also get them challenging for the treble?", the former England boss replied: "Absolutely."
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He added: "The players make you a really good manager and coach, then your job is to be able to communicate with those players.
"We all have our own pressures but to deal with higher quality players that they have is a dream come true for a coach."
Despite his deflective tactics, Leeds would soon fall to a 2-1 defeat against City after a first-half brace from Ilkay Gundogan but there was glimmers of hope from the Lilywhites, who currently sit in the relegation zone on 30 points.
Now, ahead of this weekend's crucial clash between Leeds and Newcastle at Elland Road, Allardyce was asked how he would have fared had he been at Newcastle.
It's fair to say he wasn't having any of it.
"It's speculation that's not worth talking about anymore," the former Magpies manager said. "You had a big enough headline off me last week you're not going to get anymore.
"All those who criticised me sounded a bit thick when all I was doing was diversifying off the players and onto myself which was a great tactic I picked up off Sir Alex Ferguson. There was no pressure because I took it all, I took all the stick.
"It was 'ooo look at him, listen to him,' There we go there's none of that this week. It's purely and simply focussing on Newcastle and trying to get the three points that we desperately need.
"I have said to the players and I'll say it now, when we come off the field on Saturday we can't afford to lose. We must get something."
It was a headline-making press conference from Allardyce, who also defended his former club Newcastle after they were criticised for time-wasting.
"Who doesn’t do it? Who complained?" he said.
After being told both Erik Ten Hag and Jurgen Klopp made complaints, Allardyce hit back, saying: "They all time waste last five minutes when they’re winning 2-1, don’t be daft, that’s rubbish that is.
"We’ve all been talking about ball in play more than talking about time wasting, whether ball in play can be improved.
"But the game is ferocious and quick enough as it is. Players fatigue and injuries and players’ resources are strained more than ever before."
He added: "If you speed the game up even more, increase the time they’re on the pitch even more you’re going to get more and more injuries because it’s never been so quick as it is now."
Thoughts on Allardyce's comments? Let us know.
