Skip to content

Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen hails his side as 'perfect' after Middlesbrough win

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Thomas Christiansen says Leeds' 2-1 win against Middlesbrough was the perfect response and what he expected from his team

Thomas Christiansen hailed his Leeds side as "perfect" after they beat Middlesbrough 2-1 and ended their poor run of recent form.

The Whites had lost six of their last seven games heading into the Sky Bet Championship fixture, but produced an assured performance at Elland Road to see off the side now managed by former Leeds boss Garry Monk.

It sees them move level on 26 points with Middlesbrough and just outside the play-off places on goal difference, with Christiansen full of praise for his side after the game.

"It was perfect. It's what I expected from the team, it's what they were prepared to do and they did it in what was a difficult situation," he told Sky Sports.

"When the referee gave a penalty for the opponent, the character and responsibility the players took on the pitch was perfect and I congratulate them. We were just better in this game.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds and Middlesbrough

"Of course, it meant more to the people around that we beat a team like Middlesbrough with a much bigger budget but I don't care, we are Leeds and we want to do things right. It doesn't matter who we play against, we want to go for the win. That was the intention of the players and they did it well.

"The players deserve it [the win] because the work had been so good the whole time, even when we have taken bad results so they know from one win to a defeat, the gap is so small. They have done the work so well, especially over the last few weeks and I believe we deserve these three points."

Also See:

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Pontus Jansson says Leeds deserved their 2-1 win against Middlesbrough while Pablo Hernandez says the team have worked extremely hard for this game

Middlesbrough went into the game having won their last three league matches, but once again failed to win at Elland Road, last beating Leeds on home turn in October 2010.
But Monk felt like his side deserved to take something from the game and Middlesbrough faced few issues defensively.

"We knew it was going to be a very tight game, coming here to Elland Road always is but I think we deserved more than what we got," he told Sky Sports.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Garry Monk says he feels Middlesbrough deserved to get more from their game with his former club Leeds following a 2-1 defeat

"I thought defensively, we didn't really have any problems. We started the game very well and then the first goal came. I think the flick from their player put our defenders off but we were actually in the ascendancy at that point. The second goal we were disappointed with more because we should have dealt with that.

"They were the only two situations, and maybe a few counter attacks, where we suffered defensively and I thought we were quite comfortable.

Play Super 6
Play Super 6

Simply predict six correct scores to win the £250k jackpot. Enter your selections for free here.

"We didn't make the most of our chances and in this league, it is quite marginal and it is whoever takes their moments. They took two of theirs and we took one but I definitely thought the score line was a bit harsh, we deserved something from that game."

Monk, who quit Leeds two days after owner Andrea Radrizzani completed his takeover, played down abuse from some sections of the home support, telling his press conference: "That wasn't even my focus.

"It's not about me. What's happened has happened. I've said my side, the club has said their side and that's done and dusted. "I've great memories of this club and enjoyed my season here, but now I'm at Middlesbrough and my only focus is on them."

Around Sky