Phil Hay shares what he’s been told about Robin Koch as he is benched for Leeds United v Man City
Phil Hay has revealed that Leeds United defender Robin Koch had to sit out at training during the week as he starts on the bench for Saturday’s game against Manchester City [6 May].
Sam Allardyce was confirmed as the new manager for the final four games of the season, with the club sitting outside the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
The Whites play their first game under their new boss at the Etihad Stadium against City with a surprise emerging in the starting XI with key man Koch dropped from the team.
And Hay taking to his personal Twitter account [6 May] revealed what he’d been told about the German defender ahead of the game.
He tweeted: “Meslier dropped. Robles comes in.
“Koch on the bench – was told he’d had to sit out a bit of training this week.”
Huge decision
Koch has emerged as one of the best defenders at Leeds United, if not the best throughout the campaign and his absence against City certainly comes as a huge blow to their chances in the game.
The Whites certainly tipped as any sort of favourites to get something from the Etihad but Allardyce will have loved to have one of the club’s star players available to him from the off.
It looks as if Rasmus Kristensen is starting in his place at centre-back and that will give Erling Haaland and co all the encouragement they need to run riot in Manchester.
Certainly not a good start to Allardyce’s tenure, but if there’s anyone capable of getting the best out of his team in difficult circumstances, it is the former Blackburn Rovers manager and the Whites will need that huge fortune in their remaining games.
Koch’s absence is a huge decision and a significant blow. Let’s hope his knock isn’t too serious.
In other Leeds news, Angus Kinnear has convinced another coach to join the club after a 9am phone call.