Leeds United will kick off their Premier League campaign on Saturday when they travel to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest.
The Whites proved plenty of doubters wrong last season, securing their top-flight status with games to spare before finishing 14th in the table.
Avoiding relegation and establishing themselves in the Premier League remains the main objective this season, but Leeds will also want to build on that progress and take another step forward.
Their summer recruitment has underlined the club’s ambition, and the trip to the City Ground will provide an early test of how much Daniel Farke’s side have improved ahead of the new campaign.
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Oliver Glasner gives his honest take on Leeds United
Glasner took over at Forest this summer after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season, having guided the Eagles to Europa Conference League glory.
The Forest boss insisted that his players feel fit and ready for the opening weekend of the season and he is happy with the way they have adapted to the changes he has ushered in.
Glasner said in his pre-match press conference: “The players are fit and looking good.
“We’ve changed a few things in the way we want to play, but the players have adapted really well. We aren’t at 100% right now; it just isn’t possible, but we feel we are on a good track.”
He highlighted Leeds United’s physical qualities, strength in set-piece situations and the way the team work hard on and off the ball to put their opponents under pressure.
“They play very physically; they are top at set pieces, they were second in running distance, and they won the most balls under pressure last season.”
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Leeds United should avoid defeat
Daniel Farke’s side have looked sharp throughout pre-season, and although those games were only preparation for the new campaign, Leeds have built up some genuine momentum.
The Whites have held their own against several strong opponents over the summer and are expected to hand their new signings their competitive debuts against Forest on Saturday.
Forest boss Oliver Glasner, meanwhile, has suggested his side may not be fully ready for a team of Leeds’ quality on the opening weekend.
Farke has built a Leeds side that is difficult to beat, so it would hardly be a surprise if the Whites leave the City Ground with something to show for their efforts on Saturday.
