New boss is the real deal for Leeds

... and who needs Chris Wood?

T WAS Leeds academy graduate Danny Rose who said this month that he did not want Tottenham to sign players he had to Google.

Try telling that to those at his former club Leeds, for they had to use the search engine to discover more about their new manager, let alone his obscure summer signings.

Thomas Christiansen arrived at elland Road in the middle of June. The press release confirming his appointment was complete with a detailed dossier of the club’s ninth boss in four years. After all, beyond a Wikipedia page, very little was known of the Danishborn, twice- capped Spain international, who was joint top scorer in the Bundesliga in 2003.

But when the 44-year-old left the Stadium of Light on Saturday night having fielded a barrage of questions about the impending exit of star player Chris Wood, as well as one or two polite inquiries about his side’s impressive 2-0 victory, the verdict was unanimous — this guy looks and sounds like the real deal.

So, too, did his team, even minus the talismanic Wood, who will join Premier League club Burnley this week in a club-record transfer which will be worth in excess of £15million.

The message from his soon-tobe former colleagues, however, is clear — we’re not a one-man team. Stuart Dallas headed the gameclinching second goal after an inviting cross from Samuel Saiz, who had scored the opener.

And Northern Ireland midfielder Dallas took on the role of dressing-room spokesman when he said: ‘I’m sure our fans saw the team without Woody and they were wondering who was going to score for us.

‘But as players we couldn’t afford to go into the game with any negativity, whatever others may think as individuals. We believe in each other.

‘I’m sure a lot of people thought Woody’s absence would have a bad effect on us but we dominated from start to finish. I thought we looked hungrier than them.

‘Woody scored 30 goals for us last season, but quite a few of us should have chipped in with more. He did really well but we were never a one-man team and we proved that here.

‘ We can still challenge for promotion without him. Caleb ekuban came in and did really well. He’s determined to make his mark here.’

ekuban is one of nine players brought in by Christiansen. Given that he spent last season at FK Partizani Tirana in Albania, it is fair to presume a few internet browsers were fired up on his arrival.

The same would have happened when attacking pair Saiz and ezgjan Alioski signed on the same day last month.

Forward Saiz, 26, joined from Spanish second- tier outfit Huesca, while Macedonia winger Alioski, 25, was plucked from Swiss club Lugano.

But on Saturday it was they who vied for man- of-the-match honours and combined for the first goal, Alioski feeding Saiz, who smashed into the bottom corner from a narrow angle.

Former Newcastle midfielder Vurnon Anita was the most high profile of Christiansen’s recruits, and he has been impressed by his lesser-known comrades.

‘I must admit I didn’t know much about them,’ said the Dutchman. ‘ But I do now. It proves Leeds has a good scouting operation.

‘I don’t think too many fans would have known too much about them either, but they’ve settled well.

‘Saiz is technically very good and he finds the pockets very well. He showed here he can score goals in this league.’

Saiz also scored a hat-trick on his debut against Port Vale in the Carabao Cup, only to later be accused of spitting at an opponent.

He was cleared of that allegation last week.

The Spaniard has certainly made an impression in his short time on these shores, much like his manager.

Soon, there will be no need for Google.