Christiansen: Leeds players have made this team selection for clash v Bolton
By Abigail Withey
Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen told his squad to choose their own skipper ahead of their opening Championship match against Bolton at the weekend.
The Whites ended the previous season with midfielder Liam Bridcutt as skipper, but he didn’t manage to hold down a regular place in the team which means the armband is up for grabs.
With 10 new additions at Elland Road this summer it means the competition for the captaincy is at an all time high and the boss believes the squad are the best people to choose their leader.
He said: “I believe the captain is something or somebody who has to be picked by the players.”
“For me, it’s easy to go out and say ‘you will be the captain’,” he told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “But I want a captain who is respected by the players and one that the other players look up to and somebody who is a leader.
“I said to the players that they had to choose the ones that they want to represent the team in front of me, in front of the board and they have made their choice.
The newly appointed head coach stated that there are a number of players who have the potential to be the skipper.
“We have several captains in the team but you will see it on Sunday as in the XI that will play there will be a captain.”
United’s centre-back Liam Cooper captained the Whites on several occasions in Bridcutt’s absence but the defender will face new competition next season at the back from Pontus Jansson and loanee Matthew Pennington.
The new captain will be revealed during Leeds’ Championship opener away at Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.
In other Leeds news, manager Thomas Christiansen has given his verdict on this reported Whites target.
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