Leeds United unveiled Thomas Christiansen as head coach earlier this week.
Thomas Christiansen’s first press conference as Leeds United head coach did little to change the perception of him among his cynics.
It was a rather dull affair which would not have converted the skeptical Leeds fans who perceived his appointment to be a rather underwhelming one.
With Claudio Ranieri, Aitor Karanka and Jaap Stam linked, hiring an unknown from Cyprus’s top-flight division was never going to be met with unanimous delight from the club’s fanbase – but the supporters should take note of something that Director of Football Victor Orta said during the press conference.
Orta claimed that Christiansen had successfully convinced goalkeeping coach Marcos Abad – who worked with Orta at Middlesbrough and Elche – to snub a “really big offer” in China to join his project with the Yorkshire club.
He told The Yorkshire Evening Post: “The goalkeeping coach is Marcos Abad who worked with me at Middlesbrough for a couple of months and at Elche. He had a really big offer from China but Thomas convinced him to arrive here with us.”
Not only might it suggest that Christiansen has certain persuasive skills, which will come in handy when it comes to transfer targets and keeping United’s best players.
But the subtext implies that he has a very clear idea of what he wants to do at Leeds, making his project a rather attractive one – and if his coaching and playing staff believe in him then the supporters will follow suit by way of results.
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