Could facing Monk be a blessing or curse for Leeds boss Thomas Christiansen if Whites lose next game?

Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United’s first Championship fixture following the international break will come against Middlesbrough.

Following Leeds’ 3-1 defeat away at Brentford on Saturday, Thomas Christiansen appears to be coming under increasing pressure from the Whites supporters.

Leeds’ recent run of seven defeats in nine Championship games has seen much of the early-season optimism disappear, and it now appears that there is a growing number of fans who would not mind seeing Andrea Radrizzani make a change in the dugout – though, it must be said, that that number still seems fairly small at this stage.

Given their recent run, Leeds fans would be forgiven for looking at the fixture list and shaking their heads as their next game following the international break sees Garry Monk return to Elland Road, with Middlesbrough looking to make it four home defeats on the spin for Leeds.

Initially, it would appear that – if Christiansen is under pressure from those above him – losing to Monk would be the final nail in the coffin for the Dane given how Monk’s departure from Leeds appeared to play out in the summer.

There is no question that losing to Monk’s side will hurt more than losing to almost any other side in the second tier this term – but perhaps defeat against Boro would not mean the end for Christiansen, even if Radrizzani is considering his future at the moment.

Would Radrizzani really want to allow Monk to be the man who inflicts the defeat upon Leeds that makes him admit that he appointed the wrong manager in the summer?

Of course, this is all assuming that there is a worrying amount of pressure on Christiansen – and given how Radrizzani has seemingly spent as long working on the foundations at Leeds as he has on trying to produce immediate success on the pitch, it would be no surprise if the Boro result has absolutely no impact on Christiansen’s future.

But Christiansen will be hoping that his side rediscover their best form against Monk’s men and ensure that the owners have no decision to make anyway.