‘Much bigger’ – Radrizzani makes claim about Leeds & Leicester that will make Foxes fume
Andrea Radrizzani has claimed that Leeds United is a “much bigger brand” than Leicester as the two clubs get set to play in the Premier League on Monday night.
The Leeds owner was talking to SportsPro where he re-asserted his plan to target the top six of the Premier League in three years.
He also acknowledged that Leeds aren’t on the same level financially as the Big Six at the moment.
“We play in the same league but we don’t play with the same means,” Radrizzani said of the big Premier League clubs.
“You need to continue your growth step by step gradually, both on the pitch with performances, and the development of the academy, the youth and recruitment, and at the same time to expand your brand to new generations, millennials, around the world, which can be done only if you’re becoming an attractive football team on the pitch as well, with good players, with a certain style of play.
“In my mind it’s very clear what I have to do, I just need a little bit of time and work very hard and structure, step by step, the club to catch up with the opportunities. We need two or three years of staying in the Premier League and then this club can really have the ambition to be close to the top six, or to climb even more.
“My model in football is Leicester; I think they have a good model, they run the club very well. That’s what I aspire to do but also with the acknowledgement that Leeds United, with all respect [to Leicester], is a much bigger brand internationally. It’s a big club.”
In Radz we trust
Radrizzani has been an exceptional owner for Leeds United.
He promised to buy back the stadium and he followed through on it.
He made a few mistakes in the early days, most notably bringing in Paul Heckingbottom, who was out of his depth at Leeds.
However, you’re ultimately judged on how you react to mistakes and Radrizzani got it very, very right with his next managerial appointment.
Bringing Bielsa in was an absolute masterstroke that catapulted Leeds back into the big time.
Leicester fans – probably still reeling from winning the Premier League – might not like Radz saying that Leeds is a bigger brand and club, but it’s the truth.
The Leeds support is something else. Elland Road would be sold out two times over for certain games this season.
Leeds also have the history to back themselves up.
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