Daily Mirror

I MADE LEEDS.. UNITED

Monk claims he healed the wounds at Elland Road

- BY JAMES NURSEY @JamesNurse­y

GARRY MONK is braced for a hostile reception today, despite claiming he “reunited” Leeds while boss.

Monk takes his Birmingham side to Elland Road to face the Championsh­ip leaders.

It will be Monk’s second trip back since going there with Middlesbro­ugh last November in a 2–1 defeat.

He left Leeds after just one season in May 2017 due to a fall-out with incoming owner Andrea Radrizzani.

But he recalls his spell in charge fondly as he led a surprise promotion push before finishing seventh.

Monk, boss at Birmingham since March, said: “When I went there it was very much a divided club.

“There was lots of infighting and disconnect­ion and by the end of our time, the club was united again. I will always be proud of that. It was the first time in a long time people were talking about what was going on on the pitch.

“I have spoken to Andrea since I have departed, those difference­s are put to one side now.

“We have spoken on the phone and texted. We both saw it differentl­y at the time and it didn’t match up unfortunat­ely.

“It was a shame as we were looking to continue the foundation­s we put there. Going back, it’s always going to be a hostile crowd anyway with a full house with them top of the league, but it is not about me.”

Birmingham are searching for their first win of the season against unbeaten Leeds. Few expect the visitors to get much, but Monk (below) insists they are playing well. He added: “We know Elland Road is a difficult place because we had a special bond with the fans and they have got that again. “They have decided this is the year, have learned from the mistakes of last season and invested heavily. “They are back on course for the Premier League, but we have been competitiv­e in every single game and played exceptiona­lly well.”

 ??  ?? HANDS-ONL Garry Monk returns to Elland Road to plot a Leeds defeat
HANDS-ONL Garry Monk returns to Elland Road to plot a Leeds defeat

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