Frustrated, disappointed and surprised is how Sam Allardyce has described Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani on the eve of the club’s biggest match in 12 months. This time last year, the Whites went to Brentford with their Premier League status in the balance and somehow survived.
They now face a similar fate, but with even greater odds stacked against them. Radrizzani has been in Italy this week pushing through his part in a takeover of Sampdoria, but it’s unclear whether he will be at Elland Road for the final match of the season.
Allardyce has only been at Leeds for a little over three weeks, but is well aware just how downbeat Radrizzani is with what’s befallen the Whites this season. The head coach made clear the only thing the Italian can now do is sit tight and await the close season for an overhaul of what’s needed.
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“He’s hugely frustrated and disappointed,” said Allardyce. “He didn’t expect, at the start of the season, the club would be in this position and he didn’t expect he’d have to employ three managers to try and get them out of this position.
“He’s hugely frustrated by the fact the club is in this position. The only way you sort that out is at the end of the season and have a look at the whole structure of the football club and do whatever needs to be done.
“In the meantime, the only focus is one game, one big game, one massive game for the players, for us all in control of the destiny of Leeds. Only by winning and hoping other people lose, which is not what we wanted, but it’s the position we’re in.
“Try and take advantage of the fact you’ve still got a small window of opportunity open. On the balance of where we are, there’s two completely different avenues the club goes down.
“It’s only pencilled in. The only way you can put it in ink is when you’re either in the Premier League or you’re not.”
The Whites need to beat Tottenham Hotspur as an absolute minimum requirement, but then hope Everton and Leicester City lose. If Everton lose and Leicester draw, Leeds would survive too.
If Leeds win by three goals they would stay up if Everton draw and Leicester lose or draw.
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