Micah Richards stunned by Leeds United post-match comments after West Ham United loss, Jermaine Jenas disagrees
Match of the Day 2 pundit Micah Richards has revealed his astonishment at Luke Ayling’s post-match comments that Leeds United weren’t fit enough for their pivotal clash against West Ham United.
The Whites fell to a severely underwhelming 3-1 loss against the Hammers on Sunday (21 May) to leave the club in need of a miracle on the last day of the Premier League season to avoid relegation, sitting two points behind Everton.
After the match, both captain and manager looked crestfallen, with Allardyce admitting his team wasn’t good enough defensively while also lamenting their failures in the final third.
Speaking on Match of the Day 2 [21 May, 36:00], Richards said he was surprised by Ayling and Allardyce’s negative comments, while Jermaine Jenas disagreed, saying the “damning” verdict was a valid assessment of the performance at the London Stadium.
“I am very much surprised [at Allardyce], basically saying they can’t defend, they can’t score, and Ayling saying they’re not fit enough,” Richards said.
“I’m surprised. We know from Bielsa how they used to run up and down the place, and that carries on with Jesse Marsch and then Javi Gracia there was a little more composure in the way they pressed, but to say they’re not fit enough.”
“I actually think the not fit enough comment was fair,” Jenas replied.
“They didn’t look anywhere near the levels that you’d expect Leeds to be at, in the second half in particular.
“With regards to body language after the game, players on their knees, dejected, almost giving up and accepting they are going down and then the messaging from the manager and the players.
“All I can hope is that the internal message is very different. It is quite damning.”
Miracle required
Although Leeds United are not theoretically anywhere near relegated, that was a performance of a team who have accepted their fate and look destined to be playing Championship football next season.
Rodrigo gave the Whites the perfect start when netting early on in the first half, but as soon as Declan Rice equalised for the Hammers, Leeds lacked ideas, energy and any kind of cohesion.
The lack of quality in the final third was damning, and the fact that Allardyce had to keep Rodrigo on the pitch, although he was clearly limping and playing at around 50%, says everything.
From Leeds fans walking for the exits as injury time began to the players failing to even land a single late blow on Lukasz Fabianski’s goal, this felt like a side out of ideas at the crucial juncture of the Premier League season.
The club’s Premier League safety is no longer in their hands. They must rely on Everton losing and do the job themselves against Spurs at Elland Road next weekend.
In other Leeds United news, the Whites are among the clubs in the hunt to sign one AZ Alkmaar ace.