Leeds United interim manager Sam Allardyce has claimed that he is just as good a coach as Arsenal's Mikel Arteta, Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp and Manchester City's Pep Guardiola in his first official press conference at the club.
Having parted company with Javi Gracia after a 12-game spell in charge, Leeds confirmed on Wednesday morning that Allardyce would take charge for the final four games of the season. He will lead the side for matches against Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Sitting outside of the relegation zone on goal difference alone, a trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on the reigning champions is a daunting first match for the new Whites temporary coach. However, the 68-year-old showed no lack of self-belief in his own coaching ability to try and help the club stay in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.
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Allardyce told the press that there is no other coach in world football better than him when it comes to his level of knowledge for the game.
"Far too many people think that that I am old and antiquated which is not fair," he said. "So far from the truth. I might be 68 and look old. There’s nobody ahead of me in football terms.
"Not Pep [Guardiola], not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta. They do what they do, I do what I do. But in terms of depth of knowledge, I am up there with them. I am not saying I am better than them, but I am as good as them.”
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