Leeds United host Norwich City in the League Cup tonight.
Quoted by The Yorkshire Evening Post, Norwich City boss Alex Neil has backed Garry Monk to prove himself successful as Leeds United manager.
Both coaches come face to face tonight as Monk’s Leeds side look to edge out the Canaries at Elland Road en route to reaching the quarter-final of the League Cup.
The 38-year-old manager has so far done a very decent job at the Yorkshire club, despite an ominous start, and the Whites are only three points adrift of a playoff spot.
Monk is Massimo Cellino’s seventh managerial appointment at Leeds, replacing Steve Evans at United after the Scot – who took over from axed Uwe Rosler last October – failed to earn a contract extension in the summer.
Given Cellino’s track record, the ex-Swansea City man will never be far from the chopping block himself, but the Norwich boss says that stability is critical if Monk is to continue doing a good job.
“If you look at the club – Steve went in last season and steadied the ship, and then he left at the end of the season,” Neil told a press conference, via The YEP.
“It’s been quite a common feature for that club to turn over managers, and I think the one thing that they need is a bit of stability.
“Garry will certainly bring out the best in them. He showed how good a coach he is at Swansea, and he’s certainly making them better as their results have proven.”
Asked about Neil’s kind words, Monk responded: “I have got big respect for Alex, I think he does a fantastic job there and he came in under circumstances where people asked questions when he first went in there and whether he had the experience – similar to myself when I took over at Swansea.
“And he proved a lot of people wrong and he still is.”
Norwich are six places and seven points above Leeds, but Monk’s side have won four of their last five home games in all competitions, and Neil, as he seems to know, can expect a very difficult match.
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