Steve Evans on managing 'oil tanker' Leeds United and turning down Sheffield Wednesday move
Saturday 16 January 2016 12:54, UK
Ahead of a Yorkshire derby in front of the Sky cameras, Steve Evans talks transfers, play-off hopes and turning down a move to Sheffield Wednesday before taking on 'oil tanker' Leeds United...
Evans is one of English football's great characters. Not backward in coming forward, he isn't afraid to tell it to you straight, exuding passion and pride for the team he calls an "oil tanker of a football club".
FL72 Live
Since taking over from Uwe Rosler in the middle of October, Evans has won six, drawn six and lost four of the 16 games he's taken charge of, and his side was unbeaten in eight Championship outings before conceding a late goal in a 2-1 defeat against Ipswich Town on Tuesday evening.
Leeds are currently hovering in mid-table - eleven points ahead of the drop zone yet 12 from sixth place. But, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports ahead of Saturday's clash with Sheffield Wednesday, the Scot still has the play-offs in his sights.
"When I joined the football club, there's no doubt the reason I was bought in was because the owner was concerned about a relegation battle, and I think it was heading that way," Evans said.
"We've reorganised a few players and we've only made the one signing, so obviously we want a few more of our own players in, not to supplement anybody but to add to what we've got.
"Then we'll go forward and see if we can get into that top ten and once you're there - to use a famous phrase from Sir Alex Ferguson - it's squeaky bum time.
"I don't care what anyone says, no one wants to go to Elland Road with 40,000 people there and Leeds are fighting for the play-offs. As an opposition coach, you may say you're looking forward to the occasion but you know you're playing against 12 and that's what Leeds United can bring you."
Leeds have been making moves in the January transfer window, sealing the key loan signings of Liam Bridcutt and Mustapha Carayol for the rest of the season, with the Middlesbrough loanee already on the scoresheet as the Whites knocked out Evans' former side Rotherham in the FA Cup third round last weekend.
"When I first came to Leeds, I said to the president that the first person I wanted to sign if there was any funds available was Liam Bridcutt," Evans said.
"The chairman was counting the number of midfielder players and perhaps not seeing a need for it, but he backed me, bought him in and the kid has made it easier for me to go to the president in the future because Liam has been stunning.
"We're looking to strengthen in a number of areas, but probably the spine of the team is essential, in central defence and central midfield and we're perhaps looking at one or two strikers.
"We're delighted with the goalkeeper and if he continues to progress the way he has in the last few months, he'll be another one who'll go and play in the Premier League."
That president, Massimo Cellino, has made five managerial changes in around 18 months at Elland Road, but Evans, having previously spoken about a divide in the changing room when he arrived, believes he has brought unity back to the club.
"When we turned up, we found that there were perhaps little divides and that can happen in dressing rooms, but we've always been a management team that prides itself on being as one. We win as one and we lose as one," Evans said.
"We made it clear to the group in the first day and the first meeting that these little fractions and groups weren't going to be tolerated but the credit really is at the feet of the players.
"The boys have had a couple of team nights out that they've never had before. It's work hard, play hard but at the same time, remembering we have a big job to do for what is an oil tanker of a football club. It's absolutely huge."
Leeds will be in the spotlight this weekend as they make the short trip to Sheffield but Evans is no stranger to a Yorkshire derby, having experienced facing Wednesday - and his current Whites side - with the Millers.
He might well have been in the other dugout had he not turned down the vacant job at Hillsborough during the 2013/14 season but is well aware of the threat the opposition - just two points off the play-offs - pose and believes they can make the top six.
"I was in a position where I turned the Sheffield Wednesday job down about 18 months ago, then it all changed with the new owner coming in," Evans said.
"One thing I've always thought about Sheffield Wednesday is they're a big football club, a fantastic football club. I love going to Hillsborough. It's one of those iconic stadiums that you go to as a head coach and you go out with the players when you arrive and you have a look around the place.
"I think they've invested enough money in the summer to be saying that if they don't get into those (play-off) places, they'll be disappointed.
"They've signed an array of talent on loan or permanents from the Premier League: Fernando Forestieri from Watford for £3.5m, Barry Bannan - who I've got a lot of time for - and Gary Hooper who's a top striker on loan from Norwich so they're full of class players and they may have even added one or two or spent a few more millions before we play them."
It's work hard, play hard but at the same time, remembering we have a big job to do for what is an oil tanker of a football club. It's absolutely huge.
The sides' previous meeting this season in August ended in a 1-1 draw at Elland Road with goals from Marco Matias and Chris Wood, as well as a yellow card inside 60 seconds for Kalvin Phillips.
But though another feisty encounter could await, Evans is determined his players control their emotions.
"What we'll find is there will be certainly well over 30,000 people in the stadium and it will be a fantastic atmosphere, but it's only really a fantastic day if your team produces the type of performance we've done in the last two Sky games," he said.
"It's a game where we have to play with our hearts as well as our minds. If you play just with your hearts, then both teams will be running around and playing with seven men.
"We have to play with our minds, we have to be careful and play with a real strong disciplined performance like we have done in recent weeks.
"Both myself and Carlos will be trying to settle the boys down before the game and make sure they're focused and remember the specific jobs they've got to do on the pitch, then... let battle commence."
