Relegation haunted me every day for 16 years
Matteo warns Leeds stars to stand up and be counted
DOMINIC MATTEO communicates with Leeds United’s players via WhatsApp voice notes. The brain tumour discovered in 2019 has left him unable to read or write.
But the 48-year-old, captain when the club were last relegated from the Premier League in 2004, got his message across ahead of tomorrow’s date with destiny at Brentford.
‘I still remember coming off the pitch the day we went down and I can see the young lad’s face – he’s probably 20-odd now – crying his eyes out,’ Matteo tells Sportsmail.
‘I carried that relegation with me for 16 years until we got promoted back to the Premier League.
‘I felt like I was responsible in a way, which I was. My message to the players now, “Stand up and be counted. Do what you have to do”.’
Matteo’s Leeds were beaten 4-1 at Bolton to all but confirm relegation. They led through a Mark Viduka penalty before the striker was sent off. It captured their frustration.
‘The pressure got the better of us,’ admits Matteo. ‘Our players were good enough to stay up, but we froze, we capitulated. The confidence drained from us.
‘The sending off did not help. Leeds now, they have to learn from that and from the lessons of recent red cards (Luke Ayling and Dan James are banned). They don’t stand a chance if they lose another man.
‘You can be up for the fight, but don’t do anything stupid. Game management will be key. We have to give ourselves a chance.’
Matteo spent four seasons at Elland Road until their relegation. He is now a club ambassador but does not shy away from the issues which have put them in the bottom three.
‘Why didn’t we make any signings? Whether that was Marcelo Bielsa or the board, I don’t know. I was surprised we didn’t get a striker, but also a centre back and central midfielder.
With those three positions, I don’t think we’d be here now.
‘Some fans say they shouldn’t have sacked Bielsa but, the way we were playing, we were only going one way. You can’t have man-to-man marking all over the pitch and be chasing one player everywhere. We were getting picked off. The results don’t lie.’
Bielsa was replaced by Jesse Marsch but results have been mixed. Leeds have taken two points from 15 and must better Burnley’s return against Newcastle tomorrow or go down.
‘Jesse speaks very well and he’s tried to make it more positive than it actually is, which is a good thing,’ says Matteo. ‘But the players have to take care of themselves first and foremost. Just go out and win the game.’
Matteo will be watching with Paul Robinson, the goalkeeper on that fateful day at Bolton. They have a community event beforehand and such involvement has helped Matteo in his recovery from the brain tumour that left him fighting for his life.
‘I’m back for a scan in three months,’ says the father of three. ‘They’re letting the scans go a little bit longer because they thought I was doing well.
‘Things could be better, but I’m OK. I do the best I can with my wife and kids. We’re a team, a family.
‘I am very committed. I have started a foundation, Ahead of the Game, because I want to be one step ahead in my recovery. I’m stable, but things can change very quickly.
‘I give it the respect its due but, in a way, I give it the anger when I need to – just like Leeds need to do tomorrow!’