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Jamie Carragher has scoffed at Leeds boss Sam Allardyce’s claims that he is on an equal footing with Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta and Jurgen Klopp.
Whites sacked Javi Gracia earlier this week and replaced him with experienced Premier League manager Allardyce.
This is Big Sam’s first managerial job since leading West Brom to relegation in 2020-21.
He inherited a woefully out-of-form Leeds team, who sit 17th in the Premier League table, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference; which is baffling considering they lost matches 6-1, 5-1 and 4-1 (twice) last month.
Allardyce came in to hopefully improve the whites’ defense and has four games to ensure they avoid relegation in the league.
Ahead of the test trip to Man City this weekend, the 68-year-old has taken all attention away from his players by talking about himself as a manager.
READ MORE: Welcome Back, Big Sam: A Psychotherapist’s Dream and Proper Football Man’s Fantasy
Allardyce told reporters Wednesday: “Too many people think I’m old and outdated, which is far from the case.
“I may be 68, but there is nobody ahead of me in terms of football. Not Pep, not Klopp, not Arteta.
“It’s all there with me. They do what they do, I do what I do. In terms of knowledge and depth of knowledge, I’m right up there with them. I’m not saying I’m better than them, but definitely as good as them.
And Liverpool legend Carragher certainly found Allardyce’s quotes amusing, but insisted that «comparing himself to Guardiola and Klopp is just delusional.»
Writing in his Telegraph Sport column, Carragher said: ‘Love him or hate him, you can’t help but laugh when you see Allardyce hold court as chairman and chief spokesperson for his own fan club.
Was Allardyce ironic when he said he considered himself on a par with Pep Guardiola, Klopp and Mikel Arteta? I’d like to think so.
“Otherwise, it is a matter of whether it is brave or foolish to make such a statement when facing Guardiola and one of the best teams to ever grace the Premier League in his first game.
“You have to admire the bravado. Not many others would get away with it.
“Can you imagine the reaction if a foreign manager with no major honors to his name showed up at a Premier League club like this?
“How would Brighton manager Roberto de Zerbi have been received if he had declared himself on an equal footing with two of the most successful managers of the modern era? At best inconsiderate and at worst disappointed.
«Allardyce has form for it, of course, he often seems to deserve more respect for his achievements as a manager.»
Carragher jokingly noted at the end of his column, «If Leeds stay up there will be a huge anti-climax if Big Sam doesn’t declare himself manager of the season.»
Leeds’ last four games have all been pretty difficult. Half of them actually object to Allardyce’s former employers.
The Yorkshire team’s previous two matches against Leicester and Bournemouth were both great opportunities to win and ensure survival, but that was not to be the case.
Following Saturday’s trip to the Etihad, Leeds host Champions League-bound Newcastle, travel to West Ham and host Tottenham on the final day of the campaign.
READ MORE: Big Weekend: Newcastle v Arsenal, Forest, Big Sam’s Leeds arc, Mudryk, EFL final day
