Leeds United owner Massimo Cellino has admitted that he "used to hate" new head coach Steve Evans because of the way that he got his sides to play against the Whites.
The former Rotherham United boss has been appointed as the club's sixth head coach since Cellino took control at Elland Road in April 2014, after Uwe Rosler was sacked on Monday.
Evans, who led Rotherham from League Two to the Championship before keeping them there last season, had been out of work after leaving the Millers at the end of September.
"I used to hate him because he is a fighter," Cellino told The Mirror. "I didn't like playing against him because he gives his teams his personality.
"He's a tough coach and I want that character in our team. He manages with passion and our team has not been playing with passion.
"Everything I do is to try and make Leeds better. It's easy to blame the coach and it is not just his fault. I was the one who brought him here, so I have to take responsibility also. It was my decision to bring him and so I have to take responsibility if things are not working."
Evans's first game in charge will be at Fulham on Wednesday night.
Steven Toplis
