Presenter Conor McGilligan has urged Leeds United not to hire Rafa Benitez as manager if they choose to sack current boss Jesse Marsch.
The Whites are now winless in their last eight games in all competitions having lost 3-2 at home against Fulham in the Premier League over the past weekend.
As a consequence of the defeat, the pressure is really starting to build on Marsch with his own set of fans even chanting ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ during that most recent defeat.
Naturally, as talk of a possible firing grows, more names will begin to appear as potential replacements. While speaking on the One Leeds Fan Channel, McGilligan spoke about one man he does not want to be handed the job.
He said (53:16): “Survival specialist… if you bring in, let’s say, Benitez, who is just a mercenary for me. Just comes in, he’s a bit of a bloodhound when it comes to money, only cares about one club in his life and that’s Liverpool.
“I think that if you were to bring in someone like that it is a short-term plan. I understand that money is on the line, I get it, but I’d love to have the best of both worlds where there’s an actual succession plan there for Leeds United going forward. And someone who can just keep up with it with those playing attractive football because we do have it a half-decent side I think.”
TIF thoughts on Rafa Benitez and Leeds…
The Mirror have reported that the Leeds United board will back Marsch for now at least, and the American backed this up in his press conference after the Fulham loss, saying they are all ‘unified’.
Even so, with the club in such poor form and down in the relegation zone, it feels quite likely that he could be sacked in the very near future. If that is the case, Benitez could be considered.
After all, the Spaniard is currently out of work and so would be available. What’s more, having taken charge of clubs such as Everton, Newcastle United, Chelsea and Liverpool he knows the Premier League well.
However, things ended pretty badly with the Toffees, so it’s easy to see why McGilligan has some concerns over the possible candidate.
Would you want Rafa Benitez at Leeds?
Yes
No
