Former assistant has shed light on manager Sam Allardyce’s controversial comments about Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.
After taking charge of Leeds United towards the end of the 2022/23 season, Allardyce confidently claimed to reporters that he possessed the best football knowledge, surpassing even celebrated coaches like Guardiola and Klopp.
Robinson, who served as Allardyce’s assistant at Leeds, discussed the manager’s remarks and how he reacted to them during a conversation on the I Had Trials Once podcast. Robinson said, “We were having lunch, and he (Sam Allardyce) turns to me and says, ‘I need to do something here – I need to create a bit of a smokescreen, the players look nervous, they don’t look like they can deal with the pressure.”
This revelation offers insight into Allardyce’s tactical approach and mindset when handling the pressure and expectations that come with leading a high-profile football club like Leeds United.
“I told him to make something up and throw something out there, and he said, ‘I f*g will!’
“Later, I was in his office with Keano having a coffee, and he storms in with a massive smile on his face, and says, ‘I’ve only f*g said I’m better than Pep and Klopp [to the media], haven’t I?’ The press officer then walks in and he says, ‘let’s see how many bites you get on that one!’”
Allardyce, along with Robinson, took charge of Leeds United on May 3 at a time when the club were 17th in the league table and trying to avoid relegation.
The Whites thereafter managed to pick up just one point from four games playing under Allardyce and eventually went down, finishing 19th.
Allardyce departed Elland Road at the end of last season with Daniel Farke eventually named as his successor following a lengthy search process.