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    ‘You sounded a bit thick!’ – Allardyce explains ‘better than Pep’ quip

    Emma TeeBy No Comments2 Mins Read

    • Sam Allardyce clarifies bizarre ‘better than Pep Guardiola’ comment.

    'You sounded a bit thick!' - Allardyce explains'better than Pep' quip
    ‘You sounded a bit thick!’ – Allardyce explains ‘better than Pep’ quip

    Sam Allardyce has uncovered his ‘better than Pep Guardiola’ comment after being appointed by Leeds United was motivated by Sir Alex Ferguson.

    After being appointed by Leeds last week, Allardyce hit the headlines following his first press conference when he claimed there was ‘nobody better’ than him in modern management – and namechecked Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta. “I am not saying I am better than them, but I am as good as them,” said the veteran manager, who has now clarified the comment and admitted it was a piece of misdirection inspired by his old managerial rival and friend, United legend Sir Alex.

     “You had a big enough headline off me last week, you’re not going to get anymore,” Allardyce said in this week’s press conference, rebutting a journalist’s question. “By the way, all those who criticised me about that sounded a bit thick didn’t they? When all I was doing was diverting off the players onto myself, which was a great tactic I picked up off [Sir] Alex Ferguson . There was no pressure on the players because I took it all, I took all the stick – ‘oh look at him, listen to him’ – but there’s none of that this week, it’s all focussing on Newcastle and trying to get the three points that we need.”

    Allardyce was beaten 2-1 by Guardiola’s Manchester City in his first game in charge of Leeds after replacing Javi Gracia in the final four games of the season. He will now face former club Newcastle on Saturday in a game that the relegation-threatened Whites cannot afford to lose.

    After the match against Newcastle, Leeds’ final two matches of the season are against West Ham (away) and Tottenham (at home). Elland Road Club is currently 19th in the rankings with 30 points, two points behind the safety group.