Sam Allardyce has hit back at critics calling them thick for not recognising his distraction technique in the build-up to the Manchester City game. The Leeds United boss said he would challenge for the title with Manchester City if he was at the helm and said there was no coach ahead of him from a football point of view - not Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp or Mikel Arteta.
The Whites boss came under fire from some sections of the football world, given the lack of Premier League trophies he has to his name as a manager. Nonetheless, Allardyce said he took all the pressure off his players and put it on himself ahead of their trip to the Etihad - a technique he picked up from Sir Alex Ferguson.
Allardyce was pressed on how he would have fared had he been at Newcastle United, had Mike Ashley not sacked him and brought in his own man to lead the club. However, after last week's antics, the Whites boss rebuffed the question.
"It's speculation that's not worth talking about anymore," he said. "You had a big enough headline off me last week you're not going to get anymore.
"All those who criticised me sounded a bit thick when all I was doing was diversifying off the players and onto myself which was a great tactic I picked up off Sir Alex Ferguson. There was no pressure because I took it all, I took all the stick.
"It was 'ooo look at him, listen to him,' There we go there's none of that this week. It's purely and simply focussing on Newcastle and trying to get the three points that we desperately need.
"I have said to the players and I'll say it now, when we come off the field on Saturday we can't afford to lose. We must get something."
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