Leeds United have stumbled in their bid to earn automatic promotion to the Premier League. A run of one win in six has pushed them down to third in the table, and they are in desperate need of a win ahead of taking on Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium tonight. However, the pressure on Leeds has been succinctly explained by a keen observer.
Daniel Farke and his Leeds United players still believe that destiny is in their hands as they chase automatic promotion in the remaining six games of the regular Championship season.
A win at Middlesbrough could reignite the fire within the Leeds squad, but it is clear they are under real pressure after squandering a brilliant position in the last few weeks.
However, former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has claimed that, of course, Leeds are under more pressure than the other two teams chasing automatic promotion at the business end of the season.
The pressure is higher because Leeds United are bigger – Jordan
Burnley and Sheffield United have stolen a march on Leeds in the last few weeks and appear to be finishing the season strong, despite the Whites being the more dominant team for most parts of the campaign.
Jordan conceded that he is afraid Leeds will miss out on automatic promotion and admitted that it is because the pressure is more on Leeds compared to the other teams.
He insisted that Burnley and Sheffield United are not comparable in size and stature to Leeds, which only brings more pressure on their players.
“I fear that Leeds are going to finish third”, Jordan said on talkSPORT.
“It’s pressure, [Leeds are] by far a bigger club than those two clubs [Sheffield United and Burnley] put together. Those two clubs don’t amount [to Leeds]. Nowhere near with respect.
“Sheffield United aren’t even the biggest club in Sheffield.”
It’s the reality, Leeds are massive
The pressure on Leeds to get promoted is not comparable to what Sheffield United and Burnley are dealing with at this stage of the campaign.
The Whites are seen as a massive club who deserve to play in the Premier League. No one thinks on those lines when it comes to either Burnley or Sheffield United.
Can you name these past and present Leeds United players?
No club in the Championship have to deal with this level of scrutiny or pressure as Leeds are dealing with at the business end of the campaign.
Leeds getting promoted will be a huge story. But their failure will be a bigger story, so Jordan is right, the pressure is incomparable compared to other clubs.
