Leeds United: Big changes aren’t on agenda – Darko
Yorkshire Evening Post 26/9/14
by Phil Hay
Darko Milanic says he will leave Leeds United’s winning team largely untouched at Brentford tomorrow as he begins a demanding first week in his job as head coach.
Milanic promised to stick closely to the formula which brought Leeds 10 points from their last four games ahead of the start of another busy spell of three league fixtures in eight days.
The Slovenian will be thrown into the Championship this week, visiting Griffin Park tomorrow before returning to Elland Road for a clash with Reading on Wednesday night and a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.
Milanic assumed control of Leeds’ squad from caretaker boss Neil Redfearn on Tuesday after leaving his job as coach of Austrian side Sturm Graz and signing a two-year deal in Yorkshire.
The 46-year-old, who said on Wednesday that academy manager Redfearn would be in the dug-out with him and new assistant Novica Nikcevic tomorrow, has taken charge of a side who recovered from a laboured start to the season by climbing towards the top half of the Championship with a 3-0 rout of Huddersfield last weekend.
Milanic said: “After a poor start the team got 10 points from the last four games.
“That means I won’t make any big changes.
“We have three games in one week and the start will be very important for me and the team. I’m already getting help and information, and the co-operation is very strong.
“The squad is quality but obviously there is still room for improvements.”
Leeds are two points adrift of the Championship’s play-off positions after a four-game unbeaten run but club owner Massimo Cellino set a target of promotion within two seasons when he bought a 75 per cent stake in United in April.
Milanic said: “The objectives are clear.
“In the near future the objective is the Premier League.
“He (Cellino) wants to be promoted and then stay there but promotion is not yet our primary objective this season.”
by Phil Hay
Darko Milanic says he will leave Leeds United’s winning team largely untouched at Brentford tomorrow as he begins a demanding first week in his job as head coach.
Milanic promised to stick closely to the formula which brought Leeds 10 points from their last four games ahead of the start of another busy spell of three league fixtures in eight days.
The Slovenian will be thrown into the Championship this week, visiting Griffin Park tomorrow before returning to Elland Road for a clash with Reading on Wednesday night and a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday next Saturday.
Milanic assumed control of Leeds’ squad from caretaker boss Neil Redfearn on Tuesday after leaving his job as coach of Austrian side Sturm Graz and signing a two-year deal in Yorkshire.
The 46-year-old, who said on Wednesday that academy manager Redfearn would be in the dug-out with him and new assistant Novica Nikcevic tomorrow, has taken charge of a side who recovered from a laboured start to the season by climbing towards the top half of the Championship with a 3-0 rout of Huddersfield last weekend.
Milanic said: “After a poor start the team got 10 points from the last four games.
“That means I won’t make any big changes.
“We have three games in one week and the start will be very important for me and the team. I’m already getting help and information, and the co-operation is very strong.
“The squad is quality but obviously there is still room for improvements.”
Leeds are two points adrift of the Championship’s play-off positions after a four-game unbeaten run but club owner Massimo Cellino set a target of promotion within two seasons when he bought a 75 per cent stake in United in April.
Milanic said: “The objectives are clear.
“In the near future the objective is the Premier League.
“He (Cellino) wants to be promoted and then stay there but promotion is not yet our primary objective this season.”