With the FIFA international window now over, club football is back, and Leeds United have a major matchup against promotional rival Sheffield United on Friday night at Elland Road.
Leeds will have an opportunity to put the crushing draw against Sunderland behind them after goalkeeper Illan Meslier made a critical error that allowed the Black Cats to level the match during second-half stoppage time after misplaying the ball.
A win over the Blades will put the Yorkshire side in prime position in the race for the two automatic promotion spots to the Premier League next season. Moreover, a victory would be a confidence booster as Leeds have struggled against clubs that are top contenders for automatic promotion.
Leeds have drawn against Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, and Sunderland while losing to Burnley. As a result, a win over Sheffield United would prove to Daniel Farke and his team can secure victories over their direct rivals.
Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder respects Leeds United, offers praise
Although this matchup will prove to be tense, Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder has a lot of respect for their opponent. Furthermore, he described the Whiles as a top-six club in English football despite Leeds enduring tough times since 2000.
“I think in the world of football, people who know football and understand and have that love of it will recognise that Leeds United are a Top Six club, without a shadow of a doubt,” Wilder said (h/t The Star).
“They are an Aston Villa, they are up there for me, because of the history, the support, what they have achieved, what they have won, the players who have played for them, everything. We are not a Top Six club in English football and I’m not being disrespectful to Sheffield United, we are not.
“Our history, if you go right the way through our history from 1889 and where we have finished in league positions and taking into account what we have won and the players who have played for us and what we’ve done and where we’ve been, we are not a Top Six club. We’d like to be a Top 20 club and we’d like to take it as high as we can, of course, but we are at that early stage of that with the team we are putting together and how we are going about it.”
