Garry Monk lifts lid on Massimo Cellino relationship at Leeds United

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Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk was in charge of Elland Road outfit Leeds United last season.

Middlesbrough manager Garry Monk has revealed to The Times the kind of relationship he had with Massimo Cellino at Leeds United last season.

Monk was in charge of the Leeds first team during the 2016-17 campaign and guided them to a seventh-placed finish in the Championship.

The former Swansea City manager left Elland Road in the summer, with Cellino also leaving the club as the owner.

During his time at Leeds, Cellino hired and fired a number of managers, which led to the team’s disappointing performances and results – until last season.

Monk, who is now in charge of Championship rivals Middlesbrough, has opened up on his relationship with the Italian businessman at Leeds last season.

Monk told The Times when asked if there was any meddling from Cellino: “No. He respected that I was a strong character, and how I wanted to work, and he let me get on.

“Yes, there were conversations and things that go on that were different to other owners, and he wanted to know this and that.”

When pressed about team lineups, Monk said: “Yes. He’s very knowledgeable about football. He gave me the opportunity to go and take a big club and was supportive towards me.”

Monk will take his Middlesbrough team to Elland Road on Sunday for the Championship game against Leeds.

It promises to be a hugely exciting game of football, and the Englishman is going to get a very hostile reception.

Boro have a better team and are in better form at the moment, but Leeds have home advantage.