Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom has warned his squad that they are playing for their futures. One month into the role and the former Barnsley boss is already thinking ahead to his first transfer window at Elland Road.
He is determined to ensure the players remain motivated and that they are giving 100% effort every single time, as per a report from Yorkshire Evening Post.
“One game can change a manager’s thoughts, can change your confidence, your belief, a watching scout, a watching manager’s opinion of you, both positively and negatively.”
Since taking over, Heckingbottom has overseen one win and two draws in the five games of his reign. However, on Friday night, they capitulated at Middlesbrough in a match they can ill-afford to lose.
The Peacocks are currently eight points adrift of the play-off places and even though 33 points remain to be won, their promotion hopes are dim. He refuses to give up, however, taking each game as it comes.
He is realistic enough to recognise that they have fallen short in big games, despite some good performances along the way. “We’ve competed well in some games and we were found wanting against Middlesbrough and that’s probably a fair reflection of why we’re 11th in the table.”
Last season, Leeds finished seventh in the Championship and hopes at the start of this season were high that the club would at the very least, be in the playoffs. Those dreams are now in tatters and even a win against Wolves on Wednesday may not be enough. The Yorkshire club entertain Preston North End, currently 9th, as well as facing trips to Fulham and Aston Villa.
It’s a long way from the start of the season when they went seven games unbeaten, including six without conceding a goal. However, the defeat against Millwall was the prelude to six defeats in eight games and derailed their promotion hopes.
Heckingbottom wants to finish the season on a high, pushing his players to the limit. At a club where player turnover runs at incredible levels, is fear a potent weapon for the manager to use?