Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford has made a bold claim about the way Daniel Farke's side have started the season, but insists he's "not delusional".
Leeds four clear of the drop after solid start
Leeds' number one priority this year will be to avoid the drop, considering just how much the teams that have recently been promoted to the Premier League have struggled, with no newly-promoted sides avoiding the drop over the past two seasons.
Farke's side have started relatively well, picking up eight points from their opening seven games, which leaves them four points clear of the bottom three, although the German may be frustrated his side aren't further up the table.
The Whites had more shots on target and possession against Tottenham Hotspur last time out, but ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat, while they will also be very disappointed to have dropped points after conceding late goals against AFC Bournemouth and Fulham.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke talks to Leeds United's Pascal Struijk
In an interview with The Yorkshire Evening Post, Beckford has now made it clear he is happy with how his former side have started the season, and made the bold claim they should be near the Champions League places based on their performances.
The 41-year-old said: "I think every game we've been in - the Fulham game, I thought we were unfortunate not to come away with a point.
"I think the same with the Spurs game, we should have come away with a point in that one, and Bournemouth we should have walked away with all three.
"If we look at it from that perspective, that's an extra five points on top of where we are currently in the league. And that puts us level on points with Man City and fifth place.
"We've not been outplayed by many teams this season, we look like we belong so from that perspective I have been impressed, I have been happy.
The Leeds icon also went on to say*: "I'm not delusional. The manager is not delusional. All it is, it's just the fine margins."*
Leeds' slip-ups could be costly in May
Beckford is right to assess that Farke's side have largely been competitive, with the 5-0 defeat against Arsenal the only game they have lost by more than one goal, but they cannot afford to continue throwing away points the way they have.
While it is understandable to be frustrated that Leeds aren't further up the table, they only really have themselves to blame, with Gabriel Gudmundsson, who has otherwise been impressive, scoring a bizarre own-goal to cost them a point at Craven Cottage.
Beckford's comments also don't acknowledge that luck, or lack thereof, is something that affects every team, with the Whites' 1-0 victory against Everton in their opening match coming as a result of a debatable penalty decision.
That said, Farke should take some confidence from the solid performances thus far, with the 3-1 victory at Wolverhampton Wanderers particularly impressive, and the manager will be hoping his side can put in a similar display at Burnley this weekend.