
Leeds 27-yr-old is fighting to save his job after raging Radrizzani points the finger
COMMENT By Richard Parks
Andrea Radrizzani is fed up of Leeds United’s underperforming players.
He has made clear this week that they are firmly in his firing line after accusing them of letting the club down in an outspoken and brutal verdict of the shortcomings of the squad he has assembled.
None should be more worried than Eunan O’Kane, who epitomises the mediocrity of the first team regulars who have secured just a single win since Boxing Day as Leeds’ play-off hopes have been left in tatters.
Handed a new four-year contract that was announced by the official Leeds website on 11 August last year, it has been a mostly wretched campaign for the Republic of Ireland international.
O’Kane, 27, began the season well but has subsequently struggled to do even the basics with a series of horrible performances that have left supporters tearing their hair out.
Given his pedigree and status as an international and former Premier League player who made 118 appearances for Bournemouth as they surged up the Football League to establish themselves in the top flight, the central midfielder has been one of the biggest disappointments of the season for Leeds.
Radrizzani told talkSPORT in an explosive interview on the Jim White Show on Tuesday morning that he felt particularly angry with the players who were handed lucrative new contracts last year after he took over as sole owner of the club in May.
“We have given them everything possible to just focus on the football,” said the Leeds owner. “As a club we support them in everything – we gave them long-term contracts, we supported them going to a mid-season camp in Spain.
“We did everything they wanted, but we didn’t get back their commitment, passion and the spirit.”
Radrizzani did not name the players who were the subject of his ire, but it is clear that he was pointing the finger at O’Kane, among others.
The Irishman has the comfort and security of another three years on his contract. Even if he is frozen out, Leeds have to pay him up until 2021.
Radrizzani’s public attack was a thinly-veiled attempt to cajole improved performances from O’Kane and company.
The seven-times international will not want to be forced out of Leeds, or sidelined for any length of time, not at a time in his career when he should be at his peak.
He is fighting to save his United career.
In other Leeds United news, it can be revealed that the club have launched a bid to sign a Premier League centre-forward in the form of his life.