Cardiff City v Leeds United: Cellino desperate for some stability at Leeds

STABILITY will be a word that few would associate with Leeds United in 2014.
Marco SilvestriMarco Silvestri
Marco Silvestri

And new head coach Neil Redfearn insists that is what president Massimo Cellino craves more than anything at Elland Road.

“Massimo wants stability,” said the 49-year-old, who takes his side to Cardiff City today. “He has brought it up more than me.

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“That is what the initial discussion was about – basically, am I still the future? Because that is important. It’s all right me saying I want to commit myself to it, but then be here four weeks and then gone. That is no good. It has got to change.

“We have got an owner and our circumstances are different to others. But I like him (Cellino), I have to say.

“I like his views and the way he thinks about football. He knows I am a strong person but we know we can work together. It should make the club galvanise quicker.

“He tells me what he thinks. He wants to know what’s going on. He wants things done and people who solve problems, rather than pussy-footing around.”

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United’s lack of stability has extended to the squad in 2014 with wholesale changes in the summer seeing 15 new arrivals come in and a similar number head out.

Some of the signings have been a success already such as Marco Silvestri, while others are yet to find their feet. Redfearn’s task, therefore, is to gel the squad together further as well as bring about an upturn in results.

The new head coach added: “He (Cellino) understands that a lot of players have come in. He understand that it is going to take time for these players to gel.

“What he wants to see is progress. I think that is what he wants – the players to gel, a side to come together. And a side who prove that they are capable on their day of getting results.”

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Redfearn’s first game in the hottest of hot seats is at Cardiff, a club Leeds have beaten just three times in 25 previous visits to south Wales.

“Cardiff are ex-Premier League and there is a pressure there,” said the new man at the helm.

“Maybe it is a pressure we can cash in on. We have got to go there and be positive.

“I want to get at them and get after them. Hopefully, we can have a little bit of continuity now but that’s not guaranteed. We have got to earn that.

“The players’ attitude has been good. It is quite a young group of players. They enjoy their work and they look forward to games. They have got to always have that. I have got to harness it.”