Leeds United v Chelsea
Saturday 6 December 2003 15:00
SMITH WANTS GRAY TO GET JOB
Alan Smith has urged the Leeds board not to ignore Eddie Gray’s love for the club and to hand the Elland Road legend the full-time manager’s post.
After a run of six successive defeats, with five of those in the Barclaycard Premiership sending Leeds to the foot of the table, Gray finally coaxed a win with last Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Charlton.
In terms of attempting to build on the confidence gained from such a success, Gray could not have wished for a harder task than with the visit of Barclaycard Premiership leaders Chelsea.
But ahead of his third game in caretaker charge following the sacking of Peter Reid, Gray has been assured he has the 100% backing of the players.
Smith, who despite being just 23 can now be regarded as one of the more senior players at the club, has joined forces with front line partner Mark Viduka who also gave Gray his support this week.
“If we keep winning, keep him in charge - I see no reason why not,” stated Smith.
“I just hope the club don’t use Eddie, until they find someone else, because of his loyalty.
“I’ve known Eddie since I was a kid and he would take the job if we were bottom and had no way of getting out of it because he loves Leeds United. That’s the way it is.
“If he does do a good job then he deserves to stay in charge. For the time being he is enjoying being in charge and he’s had to wait a long time to do it.
“Hopefully, his loyalty can be justified in our performances and the results we pick up.
“But he definitely has the backing of the players. Anyone who questioned that and then saw the game last Saturday will now realise everybody is 100% with him.”
Leeds and Gray must find a way of stopping a rampant Chelsea side unbeaten in their last 10 matches and who have not conceded a goal in their last seven.
Gray said: “You wouldn’t have thought a few years ago that a Chelsea v Leeds game would be top v bottom, but that’s what it is.
“But the players are starting to believe they can get out of trouble. I know they (Chelsea) are a top-class side, but we don’t fear them in any way.”
Gray looks likely to name an unchanged starting line-up, although there is a doubt over David Batty who went over on his ankle in training.
Meanwhile, Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri insists he will not embark on a major new year spending spree as he moved to reassure his existing squad of his faith in them.
Ranieri invested more than £100million last summer and Roman Abramovich's vast fortune remains at his disposal for the right player when the transfer window opens.
However, Ranieri has stressed there will be no major upheavals to his squad next month as he has been so impressed with the way that his existing players have gelled as a unit.
Indeed, Chelsea travel to Leeds with victory at home to Manchester United last weekend having underlined their genuine title credentials.
Ranieri declared: "I have a lot of champions. My players understand my philosophy and I believe in all of my players.
"It is important to be focused on my team. I have 21 players plus the goalkeepers and for me that is enough.
"I want to try to win every match. I want to win the respect of opponents and the opponents' crowd."
Not that Ranieri can categorically rule out any new arrivals at Stamford Bridge during the transfer window if he manages to unload one or two fringe figures.
However, he clearly does not wish to unsettle the team spirit which has carried Chelsea to the top of the table and into the Champions League knock-out stages on the back of seven consecutive clean sheets.
"We want to be strong and show good football. We are top of the league but we do not think about it, we are thinking about continuing, working hard and being consistent," he maintained.
"I said at the beginning of this year that it is important for us to build the group and to build the foundations.
"Now we want to continue. I am seeing a good attitude on the training pitch and that is important for me because my idea is you train in the same way that you play."
Ranieri recalls the way in which Chelsea's title challenge was undermined last season at Elland Road, when he admitted an error in making seven changes to his starting line-up only to lose 2-0.
"Leeds against Chelsea are always hard matches but I remember last season very well as we played very badly in Leeds," he said.
Chelsea will be without Emmanuel Petit and Juan Sebastian Veron through injury as Ranieri considers whether to restore William Gallas to the side at the expense of Marcel Desailly.
Leeds United (from): Robinson, Kelly, Harte, Matteo, Radebe, Morris, Camara, Barmby, Bridges, Viduka, Pennant, Chapuis, Wilcox, Johnson, Duberry, Batty, Olembe, McPhail, Lennon, Domi, Milner, Carson.
Chelsea (from): Cudicini, Ambrosio, Sullivan, Johnson, Melchiot, Bridge, Babayaro, Terry, Gallas, Desailly, Huth, Lampard, Makelele, Geremi, J Cole, Gronkjaer, Duff, Stanic, Crespo, Mutu, Hasselbaink, Gudjohnsen.