, Leeds United: Mirco Antenucci on his year at Elland Road

Leeds United: Mirco Antenucci on his year at Elland Road

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It hasn’t been an easy year for Italian striker, Mirko Antenucci. He started off the year well with eight goals in the first 20 games as a starter in the ill-fated 4-4-2 Diamond system employed by Leeds. However a new year in 2015 brought a new formation and focus, with him being replaced by Steve Morrison at the head of the new 4-2-3-1 formation. From January 10 2015 it was mainly a series of appearances as a substitute and over these 26 games, he [Antenucci] only scored two more goals with these helping him finish as Leeds’ top scorer on 10 goals. Then, infamously, there was his season-ending injury (part of the ‘Case of the Suspect Six’) and the supposed snub with the players walking around Elland Road to salute the fans after the last game of the season against Rotherham. No, it hasn’t been a perfect first season in English football for the 31-year old Italian; ‘interesting’ yes, but ‘perfect’, no!

With the season over, Antenucci returned to Italy on a break and dropped into his old club Ternana where he spoke to their website about his experiences in England and also the current situation of Ternana’s side. When asked the reasons for his visit to his old club, he replied,

“My experience in England for this year has been finished for over a week. I’m back in Italy after a short break in France, I wanted to say goodbye to so many friends.”

He was asked by the Ternana club reporter about how he felt that his first season in England had gone.

“Overseas, very well until January and then [we] had some troubles with the coach but I finished top scorer with 10 goals.”

Antenucci was then asked about what he had just seen from the Ternana side, a team that find themselves underperforming just like Leeds United were last season.

“Results don’t lie, the guys tried hard and want to change…Ternana’s approach looked good, on some occasions they were unlucky…You must remain united and that is the secret to salvation.”

The reporter then concluded the short interview by asking Antenucci about what the future holds for him.

“I still have another year of contract [left] with Leeds United.”

Antenucci’s replies, whilst brief, do lift the veil of secrecy a little onto what goes on behind closed doors at Elland Road. His admission that he thought the first half of the season went well was borne out with his goal returns and general play. The ‘troubles’ he mentions with ‘the coach’ could well stem from two things: either the change in formation or the reputed requirement not to play him in case two more goals triggered an extension clause in his current contract. It’s a difficult one, the formation change didn’t help Antenucci as he wasn’t really suited to the role of the lone striker under the change and the latter, well the less said about that ‘clause’ (if it exists) the better. Leeds fans, and I only really talk from my position on this point, surely would prefer 20 goals and a contract extension rather than 10 goals and mid-table mediocrity.

The fact that Antenucci has a year left on his contract is a positive thing, I believe. He is a different type of striker, I honestly do think that he would play well off a main striker who is a primary goal scorer – it’s just that Leeds need to find that out-and-out striker.

Perhaps the most telling response that he made that offers an insight into how Leeds (and that is club, players and fans) should, “You must remain united and that is the secret to salvation.”

Massimo, fellow fans, Leeds United – heed the words of the bearded one.

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