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No Europe says Terry
Mon 28th October 2002, 13:04
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Terry Venables, the man who holds Leeds' fate in his hands Leeds has admitted his side face a major struggle even to qualify for the UEFA Cup next season.
After resuming his club football career at Elland Road, the former England coach has had an indifferent start following David O'Leary's sacking in the summer.
Signs of dicontent emerged following last weeks defeat to Liverpool, which was United's fifth of the season.
With his side mid-table, tenth, Venables has admitted that qualification for Europe may be beyond him in his first season in charge.
'Everybody would love to be in Europe year in, year out,' he said. 'At the moment, the reality check is: maybe we can't. Hopefully we can, but some clubs have a better chance than others.
'I won't be shocked if the same three clubs are up at the top at the end of the season. The rest of us must do our damnedest to be up there with them.'
This afternoons match (K.O. 3pm) will be tough trip to face a vastly-improved Middlesbrough, one of the teams which seem to have overtaken Leeds, who only two years ago reached the Champions League semi-finals.
The Leeds manager remains confident that he will be able to invest in new players when the transfer window opens in January, despite financial constraints facing the club.
He continued: The squad needs strengthening to get where they want to be.
'This is a must for the club. Maybe it's a bit worse than we thought when I came in but things do change.
'Chairman Peter Ridsdale has shown he wants to spend the money. We've put a lot in the bank.
'Hopefully, when the transfer window opens, we can do something. The club will try to do their best.'
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Written by Tom Mulhall
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