Leeds United found themselves in the middle of a tough promotion race at the start of the year. Burnley and Sheffield United were formidable contenders in the race for a Premier League place.
Up until the last month of the campaign, all three teams had a shot at automatic promotion. But with weeks to go, the Blades fell off in the race, leaving Leeds and Burnley to battle it out for the league title. The race went down to the wire, and was only decided on the final day of the season, with Manor Solomon providing the goods for the Whites.
QUIZ: Can you name the team Leeds United signed these players from in the 2000s?
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Chris Wilder makes startling Leeds United admission
Credit: Imago
Chris Wilder was the brain behind the Blades in their chase for promotion last year. He was sacked at the start of the summer, and replaced by Ruben Selles. The Spaniard has now been sacked following a poor start to the season. Wilder has now returned to his old club, and had some interesting words to say at his first press conference. In a bold statement, the 57-year old said his side cannot play the free flowing football that Leeds played last year:
“I’ve always said, you look at the Championship and there’s maybe sort of 10 to 15 games where you play well,” Wilder said.
“There’s a group in the middle there, maybe 10 to 15 games, and there’s a group of games where you don’t play well. It’s how you approach every game and how you get results.
“We’d all love to play champagne football and do what Leeds United did last season and play this free-flowing game with the players that they had.
“But that wasn’t the situation we were put in at the start of the season. And you have to grind out results and, by hook or by crook, gain those results through different qualities. We have the players to do everything here, to fight and to grind one out and to play decent football.”
Blades fans will not be happy
Taking over your former club and immediately telling everyone not to expect ”champagne football” is a bold claim, but if anybody can back it up, it is Chris Wilder. He has far too much experience at this level to not deliver on his words.
Hopefully he can get the Blades promoted this season.
How is telling people to not expect champagne football a bold claim? Saying expect champagne football and to win every game 3-0 would be bold.