Leeds boss Allardyce reveals reason behind ‘as good as Guardiola’ comment.. and football icon who inspired him to say it

SAM ALLARDYCE has revealed the real motivation behind his recent claim that he is “just as good as Pep Guardiola”.

Big Sam, 68, returned to the dug-out a fortnight ago and is tasked with saving Leeds United from Premier League relegation.

GettySam Allardyce has revealed why he said he was ‘just as good’ as Pep Guardiola[/caption]

PABig Sam has been tasked with saving Leeds from relegation[/caption]

He had just four Premier League matches to try and turn them around after replacing Javi Gracia.

Allardyce has collected one point from his first two games, which were a defeat at Manchester City and a draw with Newcastle, and takes his team to old club West Ham tomorrow before a final day showdown at home to Tottenham.

Following his appointment and as he prepared to face league leaders City, Allardyce hit the headlines when he insisted that he is “as good as” Guardiola – the man who is on the verge of guiding the Cityzens to a historic treble.

That comment led to many snide remarks from many quarters, but now the experienced Englishman has admitted that he was only copying a trick straight out of icon Sir Alex Ferguson’s playbook.

He told The Times: “That’s about taking the pressure off the players and putting all the focus on yourself.

“The master taught me that… Fergie. 

“He said you create a diversion, a stir. Say something to the press to take the attention away from players who are being criticised all the time.

“I went in there intending to say that. And, hey, I never said I was better than them.”

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Allardyce added: “Far too many people think I am old and antiquated, which is so far from the truth. I might be 68 and look old but there’s nobody ahead of me in football terms. Not Pep, not [Jurgen] Klopp, not [Mikel] Arteta. It’s all there with me.

“They do what they do, I do what I do. But in terms of knowledge and depth of knowledge, I’m up there with them. I’m not saying I’m better than them, but certainly as good as they are.”

Guardiola actually AGREED with Big Sam after hearing his remarks earlier this month and launched a fierce defence of the ex-Bolton, Newcastle and Sunderland manager.

He said: “He is right. I want to be honest. Now look what happened with, for example, Neil Warnock in Huddersfield.

“Now there’s a tendency for these incredible managers, they have done this Premier League or this competition in better position.”