Thomas the saviour with a Chris of life
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE – ASK NEYMAR!
THOMAS Christiansen is a fatalistic chap, which may prove beneficial as he prepares to kick off the new season as Leeds’ eighth boss in the last three years.
“There is only one thing in life that I know with 100 per cent certainty,” says the Danishborn Spaniard. “We will all pass away one day. In football, nothing is so certain.”
A point aptly illustrated by Neymar, whose £197m switch from Barcelona to PSG this week was as unexpected as it was bewildering.
Christiansen, a La Masia graduate who played for Barcelona B, was saddened to see the Brazilian go, and could yet face fresh heartbreak if rumours of £20m bids for Leeds’ own talisman Chris Wood prove more than paper talk.
Swansea, Stoke and Southampton are all said to be interested in the Kiwi, who scored 27 goals last term and will lead the line for Christiansen’s new-look side at Bolton today.
And whilst the club insist no formal offers have been received, Christiansen knows every player has his price.
Daunting
“You see what happened with Neymar,” said the 44-year-old, who also won two caps for Spain. “You believe you have a player for many years. You renew his contract, at great expense.
“Everybody thought he would stay, but who would have said that somebody would put 200 million Euros forward?
“In the case of Chris Wood, I am sure he will be here in September. He is our player and I want him to stay. But 100 per cent? Nobody can say that.”
Christiansen arrived from Cypriot champions APOEL in June after Garry Monk, who led the Whites to an unexpected seventh-place finish last season, rejected a new deal.
And whilst the top-six berth demanded by new owner Andrea Radrizzani appears daunting, Whites midfielder Eunan O’Kane feels progress has been made since last season’s agonising near miss.
For all the improvements under Monk, there was a sense that Leeds were one-dimensional. If their slow, possession-based tactics faltered, a back-up plan was lacking. Not now, says O’Kane.
“I don’t think you can afford to be a one-style team,” said the Irishman, who has flourished in pre-season after an injury-hit 2016-17 campaign.
“People quickly work you out if that’s the case. The new manager has a different philosophy. He’s adamant that we keep the ball, but he isn’t afraid to mix things up. We’ve definitely got more than one style and one system up our sleeve.”
Consistent
More players, too. Macedonian winger Ezgjan Alioski was a £3.2m signing from Swiss side Lugano. A similar sum was paid for Samuel Saiz, who scored 12 goals from midfield at Spanish second-tier side Huesca last season.
In total, £12m has been spent on 11 players, most the work of recruitment doyen Victor Orta, the man behind many of Aitor Karanka’s signings at Middlesbrough.
Yet of those, only three – Pontus Jansson, Hadi Sacko and Vurnon Anita – possess Championship experience. Will a settling-in period be required?
“We have to be patient with everyone,” insists Christiansen. “The league season is 46 games long. The players and me, we are still learning about each other.
“What is most important is to be consistent – not have too many up and downs. It is about always reaching our best level – or trying to. I believe that my job is to prepare the players for what I expect on the pitch. It is their job to deliver.” And the goal? “Leeds should be in the Premier League,” says Christiansen. “And I hope I am the man to make it happen. For myself, I signed for two years with an option for one more. My intention whenever I sign a contract is to fulfil it.”