Real Madrid
With 12 games to go, Leeds United have the chance to secure their place next season. The Whites have had a rollercoaster of a campaign, especially in the last few months.
It took a while for Daniel Farke to get the team to gel, but the start of the season showed some promise. In the middle of the campaign, the club was in their worst form and could not pick up a point in must-win games. It was near the end of the year that Farke found the solution to his club’s woes.
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The tactical switch saw Leeds United go on a long unbeaten run which propelled them to 15th place in the league. Now, they are in a great position to secure their safety in the coming weeks.
Nothing is guaranteed, as teams have a lot to fight for as the season draws to a close. Teams at the bottom of the table, including Leeds, are fighting to survive while other teams are still in the race for Europe. The Whites face Aston Villa on Saturday, a team who hope to make the Champions League next season.
Former Premier League star makes controversial Real Madrid claim
Speaking of Europe, Premier League teams seem to have found dominance in competitions over the last few seasons. This has been attributed to the large amounts of funds available to clubs in England. Just this campaign, the Champions League group phase had five English teams in the top eight. This has raised conversations about if the Premier League is the ultimate level of competition.
Theo Walcott has recently made some interesting comments on this, as he claimed Real Madrid would struggle against teams in England like Leeds United:
“Eighth. I feel they may struggle at Crystal Palace and Leeds away. The weather plays its part as well,” he said on Amazon UK.
Walcott’s comments will raise controversy, but is praise for Leeds, who have one of the best home ground atmospheres in England.
READ MORE: ‘They are…’ – Unai Emery delivers honest Leeds United verdict ahead of clash with Aston Villa
Elland Road advantage must count towards the end of the season
With 13 games to go, Leeds have to find a way to secure their spot in the Premier League for next season. Their league position may give a sense of safety, but a six-point gap to the relegation zone is not enough. Things can change within weeks in the division; just like near the end of last year when Leeds had a brief spell in the relegation zone.
Daniel Farke and the players must now make sure that they do not make any mistakes from now till the end of the season. Starting with the game against Aston Villa this weekend.