Leeds United’s interim management team will get another crack at Manchester United after plans to have a new boss in place before the weekend hit the skids.
The club saw their ambition to install Rayo Vallecano’s Andoni Iraola grind to a halt on Wednesday night before Feyenoord issued a stark ‘hands off’ warning on Arne Slot, another manager who features highly on their wishlist.
Appointing a coach who fits into their vision of high-press, energetic football in mid-season is proving predictably difficult. That means the temporary team headed by under-21 coach Michael Skubala, Chris Armas and Paco Gallardo will get an extended run with the team.
Leeds’ impressive performance in a 2-2 draw at Old Trafford – and the optimistic, impressive and articulate impression made by Skubala – has bought them time. Although owner Andrea Radrizzani had previously tweeted that he hoped for “white smoke” before that game, inside the club it’s understood there is little sense of panic at the Iraola snub. The desire is to get the right man rather than rush an appointment and regret it.
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“I have heard nothing from Leeds, neither officially nor unofficially,” Feyenoord general manager Dennis te Kloese told Dutch media. “I also know Leeds as a correct club, so I don’t believe they are playing this behind our backs.”
Leeds may now return to Argentine Marcelo Gallardo, the former River Plate manager currently taking a sabattical. His philosophy and style of play would align with that of Leeds’ football and he was understood to be their number one pick.
Despite missing their self-imposed deadline of having the new man in charge before the second of their double header games against Manchester United, Leeds will hope to have someone confirmed before a hugely consequential game against Everton.
Skubala will carry out pre-game media duties on Friday and will no doubt relish the prospect of getting longer than a couple of days and “twenty minutes” to work on team shape. He is not a candidate for the role but could enhance his reputation as well as continuing to help the club’s hierarchy out of a hole if his team replicate the spirit and endeavour they showed in this week’s Old Trafford draw.
The club were rebuffed by Rayo Vallecano as they went after Iraola, with director of football Victor Orta heading a delegation that travelled to Madrid to try and seal a move for the former Athletic Bilbao midfielder.
He is understood to have a release clause but Leeds have not triggered that amid concerns that he has not been persuaded to leave Spain for West Yorkshire.
Another outside contender, Carlos Corberan, signed a new contract earlier in the week and insisted yesterday that talks over the new deal had begun a month ago and had nothing to do with Leeds’ interest.
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