Uwe Rosler: These were two top players I strongly urged Cellino to sign at Leeds
By Alex Stevens
Former Leeds manager Uwe Rosler has revealed that the two players he most strongly urged Massimo Cellino to sign were Chris Wood and Stuart Dallas.
The German has reflected on his short spell in charge of the Yorkshire giants at the start of last season which abruptly ended with the sack after just 11 league matches.
Rosler was at the helm in the summer of 2015 but was given little opportunity to make his mark in the transfer window due to lack of available funds.
However, the German, 48, has revealed that he had little say when it came to recruitment but he was adamant erratic owner Cellino should capture two players.
“I was given a team who three years before were No15 in the league and not with big investment,” said Rosler to the print edition of Saturday’ Sun (page 10 of football pull-out).
“I carried on the same squad, apart from Chris Wood and Stuart Dallas, who were two players I strongly recommended to the club.”
Ironically, Wood has flourished at Elland Road following his arrival from Leicester and was this week named the Championship player of the month for January, in which he maintained his excellent scoring run with six more goals.
The New Zealand international has now scored 21 goals in all competitions this season, 18 of which have come in the league to place him second in the Championship only to Newcastle’s Dwight Gayle.
“Chris is a top player and I’m very happy for him,” said Rosler to the Sun. “I was told to stay in the league. I was never in the bottom three and it wasn’t enough time to reflect on it because I was only there for 11 league games.”
Rosler is now in charge of League One side Fleetwood Town and has steered the minnows to the play-off spots with hopes of a first-ever promotion to the Championship.
Leeds also have promotion hopes of their own and will aim to get their campaign back on track when they host Cardiff at Elland Road on Saturday.
Wood and Dallas are both expected to be named in the team that faces the Welsh visitors, who are managed by ex-Leeds boss Neil Warnock.
In other Leeds transfer news, the club are eying a stunning triple transfer swoop as three players headed into the training ground.
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