Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Spaniard made it clear that a successful and organised pre-season was vital ahead of a highly competitive Championship campaign.

Clotet linked up with head coach Garry Monk on Monday as the pair delivered their first training session, and the Spaniard, who has previously coached in his native Spain along with a spell in Sweden, stressed the importance of an organised pre-season campaign.

“We’re going to be prepared and we’re going to wish that a little bit of luck goes our way,” Clotet said. “At the same time, with our feet on the ground, we know it’s going to be a tough competition.

“It’s got to be one of the most difficult seasons ever in the Championship but I look forward to it. What we’ve done is to analyse all the Championship games to see exactly how the competition is. You analyse how teams attack, how teams defend, how you have to fix a little bit the way you want to play so you can handle this kind of competition.

“With our feet on the ground and with everyone working together we’ll see if we can take the club forward.”

Clotet, who didn't play professionally during his playing career but earned his UEFA pro licence at the age of 26, was a prominent ally of Monk’s at Swansea City and it was United’s head coach secured him the role of assistant manager shortly after his own appointment.

After Monk’s dismissal as Swansea boss last December, a decision that saw Clotet depart the Liberty Stadium too, the pair remained out of work before joining United, and Clotet told United’s website: “I’m excited for it (the job at Leeds) because of the things I knew already.

“I’ve been here before and I’ve followed Leeds before. I came here to look at the facilities three years ago and I was impressed by the size of the club.

“I also remember the game that Leeds played against Barca in the Champions League. Leeds are a famous team in Spain.

“We’re working on a six-week plan to get the players fit and to introduce all of the tactical things we want from the team. It’s a very important time for us — you get to know the players by working with them on a day-to-day basis. To be prepared for the beginning of the season, we have to use these six weeks very wisely.

“It’s important for the players not only to get fit but to get fit for the way that we want to play.

“Fitness is very specific and you want their bodies to be ready to produce the football we want.”

United will kick off the new season with a visit to Loftus Road on August 7, as they take on Queens Park Rangers, who finished 12th in the Championship last season.

Photo: Action Images

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