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I was Sam Allardyce’s assistant when he told us he was better than Pep Guardiola – we were in stitches


SAM ALLARDYCE’S assistants were left stunned when he claimed to be better than Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, admits Karl Robinson.

The 68-year-old took charge of Leeds for their final four games last season.

Sam Allardyce made a bold claim in his first Leeds press conferenceCredit: PA
The 68-year-old was joined at Elland Road by Karl Robinson, rightCredit: PA

He was joined at Elland Road by coaches Robinson and Robbie Keane.

At his first press conference, Allardyce raised eyebrows by proclaiming: “I might be 68 and old, but there’s nobody ahead of me in football terms. Not Pep, not Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta.

“It’s all there with me. They do what they do, I do what I do. In terms of knowledge and depth of knowledge, I’m up there with them.

“I’m not saying I’m better than them, but certainly as good as they are.”

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Appearing on the ‘I Had Trials Once’ podcast, Robinson lifted the lid on what really happened.

The former Oxford and Charlton boss said: “He [Allardyce] turned round me to me and said, ‘I need to do something here, I need to create a bit of a smokescreen. The players look nervous, they can’t deal with the pressure’.

“I said. ‘just make up something, just throw something out there’. He said, ‘I f****** will’.”

“I’m in his office with Keano [Robbie Keane] and we’re just sat there having a coffee. He [Allardcyce] stormed in with his massive big smile on his big head and just went, ‘I’ve only ‘f****** said I’m better than Pep and Klopp haven’t I’. We all went “what!”.

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“The press officer then walked in afterwards. He’s giving it and [Allardyce] said, ‘let’s see how many bites I get on that one’”

Allardyce’s mind games didn’t do much, with Leeds picking up just one point from his four matches in charge.

Their final day 4-1 home defeat to Tottenham consigned them to relegation – with Big Sam not having his contract renewed.

Leeds have subsequently appointed former Norwich boss Daniel Farke on a four-year contract.

They kick-off their Championship campaign on Sunday by hosting Cardiff City at Elland Road.

Allardyce claimed to be as good as Pep GuardiolaCredit: Getty


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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