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Matthew Hobkinson

Sam Allardyce claims Leeds United squad 'desperate to do better' amid relegation battle

Leeds United interim manager Sam Allardyce has revealed that the squad are "desperate to do better" after he held his first training session as head coach.

Allardyce has a handful of days to prepare Leeds for a trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on reigning champions Manchester City this Saturday afternoon. After a dismal run of results in April that saw the Whites concede 23 goals in 7 games, there could not be a harder start for the 68-year-old.

Games against Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham complete the run-in for Leeds and given the recent poor form that saw Javi Gracia sacked, Allardyce had expected to walk into a far more downbeat dressing room than the one he was met with on Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Sam Allardyce insists he is 'as good as' Arteta, Klopp and Guardiola for 'football knowledge'

However, the mood that greeted the new Leeds coach came as a pleasant surprise. "I've seen a positive attitude," he said. "I'd have expected them to be more miserable than what they seem. Collectively, they seem quite good together.

"My first impression is that they're desperate to do better. With a bit of support and guidance, and breeding a bit of confidence into them, hopefully they can build themselves up and give a bit more."

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