OPINION
It looked like a new dawn for Leeds United when fresh-faced Andrea Radrizzani bought out Massimo Cellino to become sole owner of the club in May 2017.
The young businessman ticked all the boxes for fans, but the main thing was that they were now rid of the train wreck that was Cellino, and could move on in their quest to regain Premier League status.
Radrizzani’s tenure got off to a rocky start with the departure of Garry Monk, but the subsequent appointment of Thomas Christiansen looked a masterstroke when the Whites burst out of the blocks to take an early lead at the top of the table this season.
However, six months and two dismal runs later and Christiansen was sacked, to be replaced by Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom in February.
Sandwiched in between all this was Radrizzani’s attempt to change the club’s badge from the beginning of next season, a move which spectacularly blew up in his face.
And, while the on-pitch problems could not possibly be blamed on the Italian, the badge backlash really hit Radrizzani hard, and it seems he has been slightly angered since then.
The latest headlines surrounding him involve a scathing attack he has now launched on the club’s playing squad, in which he questions their commitment to the cause.
As quoted by Yorkshire Evening Post reporter Phil Hay on his personal Twitter account, Radrizzani said: “As a club we support them with everything. We did everything they wanted but we didn’t get back the commitment, the passion and the spirit. I don’t want players in my team with this behaviour. I hope they can learn.”
Let’s get this straight, Radrizzani is wrong to have come out with these comments.
Of course, as an owner, he has a right to hold an opinion on the team he is bankrolling and the team that he quite clearly cares about.
But a public attack on your players is not acceptable, especially when ‘the commitment, the passion and the spirit’ has not been the problem this season.
Quite frankly, the issue at Leeds comes down to footballing ability and nothing else.
Some of the players that Radrizzani and director of football Victor Orta have brought in are simply not good enough for a side that wants to achieve promotion in one of the toughest leagues in the world.
Radrizzani needs to have a look first at himself and his methods before attacking his playing squad like this.
His comments will only serve to anger a dressing room that will already be low on confidence, and will no doubt have an effect on form in the crucial coming weeks.
When Radrizzani bought into the club, fans thought they were set for a massive departure from the catastrophe of the Cellino years, but with incidents like this, some are now realising that may not be the case.
While there have no doubt been improvements, Radrizzani needs to rise above such comments and lead the club in a way that inspires loyalty, not a way that encourages disunity.
That is the only way Leeds will achieve their dream of Premier League football coming back to Elland Road once again.