SKIPPER SPEAKS OF HIS PRIDE

SKIPPER SPEAKS OF HIS PRIDE

Rudy Austin on being named skipper…

Newly installed club captain Rudy Austin has spoken of the honour that comes with leading Leeds United.

Rudy returned to action at the King Power Stadium on Sunday after serving a three match suspension, carried over from last season.

The midfielder found out about his new role on Friday after a meeting with United manager Brian McDermott and he admits he was shocked at what the boss asked him.

Rudy didn’t take the decision lightly and says

“It felt good to be out there playing on Sunday with the boys and it was a wonderful point away from home,” said the skipper.

“I found out on Friday morning, the gaffer sent someone to call me to his office.

“I went up there and he was telling me that he respected me and things like that and then he told me that he wanted me to lead the team.

“I was shocked and I told him that I needed to think about it because I am not the type of person who just jumps and makes decisions.

“But he insisted that I should take it so that’s what I did. As you saw on Sunday we play as a team, it is not about me as a captain, it is about everyone.”

Encouragement will be a key factor in the midfielder’s captain style and may look to having a quiet word in someone’s ear rather than the shouting approaching.

Rudy didn’t take the decision lightly and feels United should be a team of captains.

“I’m not the type of person to put extra pressure on myself,” said Rudy. “At the end of the day I have to do what I do best, I need to do my job and help others do theirs.

“As I said before it is about the team, there is not an individual. If 11 of us out there have a captain mentality we will have a very good team.

“Sometimes you don’t have to shout, sometimes you can just point them in the right direction.

“I don’t like to put people down, I like to encourage and that’s the sort of captain I will be.

“I just get along with everyone, I came to the club to play my football and that’s what I do for a living. It doesn’t matter who is the captain. I didn’t know I was going to be the captain but it is a big honour and I will try my best to do a good job for the club and the boys.”

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