Garry Monk insists Leeds are a Premier League club by stature
Thursday 22 December 2016 10:04, UK
Garry Monk says Leeds are a Premier League club by stature, adding the foundations are being built to return them to the top flight.
Former Swansea boss Monk took over at Elland Road in the summer, and has his side in fifth place in the Championship after a good start to the season.
Speaking on the EFL Weekly Podcast, Monk says the club are "massive", and says the building blocks that were never previously present are beginning to become apparent.
Monk said: "First of all we're trying to put the foundations in, which has been lacking in the past. It's a Premier League club for sure, in terms of the stature and fan base and infrastructure; it's the job for us on the field to get it back to where it belongs.
"This will always be a giant of a club, it's massive, with a massive history, and I knew that coming here, of course that was part of the reason for coming here.
"The fans are so loyal, and so vocal with the support for the team. They've suffered a lot over the last decade or so, so you want to come here and put it back on track, I think that's what we're doing."
Leeds have won seven of their last nine games in the Championship, their best run since promotion back to the second tier in 2010.
Monk says that while the aim is to return to the top flight for the first time since their relegation in 2004, they are taking steady steps.
"Steadily and gradually we've been progressing, the players have been taking in all the ideas, what we've been asking them to do, and showing it on the pitch," Monk added.
"Step by step this this young group are improving all of the time. Overall they're progressing nicely.
"It's the burning ambition of this club [to get back into the Premier League], and myself and the players. I know that is the place to be, but there's 20 other clubs in this league that feel the same."
