03 May 2023 , 19:03
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Gary Neville has laughed off Sam Allardyce ’s claims that he is “as good as” Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp as he attempts to guide Leeds to safety.
The former West Ham and Sunderland boss was confirmed as Javi Gracia’s replacement at Elland Road. He has a huge task on his hands to ease the Yorkshire club’s relegation fears.
Leeds have four games left to guide themselves away from trouble. They sit just outside the drop zone, ahead of Nottingham Forest courtesy of their superior goal difference. After being introduced to the media, it appears that Allardyce is not low on confidence.
Speaking in his opening press conference, he claimed that he had the same managerial abilities as habitual winners Guardiola, Klopp and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. Allardyce said: "Far too many people think I am old and antiquated, which is so far from the truth.
"I might be 68 and look old, but there's nobody ahead of me in football terms -- not Pep [Guardiola], not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta. It's all there with me. I shared it with them, they did what they do, I do what I do.
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"In terms of knowledge, and depth of knowledge, I'm up there. I'm not saying I'm better, but I'm certainly as good as they are."
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It appears that 12-time Premier League winner Neville does not agree with Allardyce’s claim. Taking to Twitter, he responded to a video of Allardyce with a series of laughing emojis.
Allardyce will certainly hope to prove his abilities over the next few weeks as he attempts to keep Leeds in the Premier League. His first game in charge comes against one of the men he compared himself to as Man City welcome the Whites to the Etihad at the weekend.
Leeds then take on Newcastle, West Ham and Spurs to round-off their campaign. One man that Allardyce will be without is loyal assistant Sammy Lee.
He is not able to join him at Elland Road due to his involvement in jury service. Allardyce has hit out at the decision not to let him drop out.
The former Everton boss added: "The judge has left Sammy unemployed and not let him off. Very poor judgement indeed. Shame because the wee man loves being with me and I with him."
Allardyce has only penned a contract until the end of the season but has not totally ruled out the prospect of a longer stay in Yorkshire. "Never say never," he said. "It depends 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."