Leeds United returned to the Premier League last season and surprised many by securing survival with games to spare towards the end of the campaign.
The Whites are one of the biggest institutions of British football, but spent more than 15 years away from the Premier League before they returned to the top table in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa.
Daniel Farke and the current Leeds owners are trying to reestablish them as a Premier League club while work is underway to expand the stadium and grow the club’s financial potential.
However, it is often forgotten outside Leeds how big they are, and the club are often ignored in conversations of the biggest clubs in British football.
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talkSPORT pundit insists Leeds United are a top 10 big club in Britain
Jamie O’Hara and Roy Jennings were reacting to a list of ten ten biggest clubs in British football that one of their colleagues published, and Jennings could not believe Leeds were not in it.
He stressed that Leeds are a massive club in Britain and argued that, had they not been denied the European Cup in 1975, there would be far less disrespect towards their name today.
A vocal Chelsea fan, Jennings is still aware of Leeds’ place in British football history and insisted that they will always be a huge club in these shores.
“Leeds are a huge club with a huge history and huge support base”, Jennings said on talkSPORT.
“They were robbed of a European Cup.
“People talk about European Cups; I think it was 1975, they played Bayern Munich, and they were robbed.
“The referee that day never refereed again; Leeds United should have won a European Cup and had they, the conversation would have been very different.
“I am a Chelsea fan, and we have no love for Leeds, but I am aware of what they mean to football; I am aware of their history and support base.
“We sing about Leeds every week; they are one of our biggest rivals and always will be.”
Can Leeds get back to Europe soon?
Europe should not be the benchmark for Leeds United next season. The main objective has to be establishing themselves in the Premier League and avoiding another relegation battle.
That said, there is no harm in supporters dreaming a little. Leeds have shown plenty of ambition in the transfer market this summer and are expected to strengthen the squad further before the window closes.
With so much money being spent by the clubs around them, even breaking into the top half will be a tough ask. But Leeds showed plenty of character and resilience last season and proved they can compete at this level.
If a few of the more established sides struggle and an opening appears, Leeds could find themselves in the mix. A top-eight finish may be enough to bring European football, and the Whites could be well placed to take advantage if the opportunity presents itself.
