Leeds United boosted their hopes of remaining in the Premier League by battling to a 2-2 draw with Chelsea on Tuesday night.
Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart has delivered his verdict on Leeds United’s battle against relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites endured a difficult return to the top flight and were firmly in the bottom three as December approached - but an impressive upturn in form has lifted them six points and three places above the relegation zone. That improved run of form was kickstarted by a battling performance during the second half of a defeat at Manchester City on the final weekend of December and gained momentum with a 3-1 home win against Chelsea just days later.
Since that Elland Road victory against the Blues, Daniel Farke’s side have lost just two out of their last 14 games in all competitions and those defeats came in a dramatic 4-3 loss at Newcastle United and the recent 4-0 home defeat against title favourites and current leaders Arsenal. The Whites will turn their focus towards the FA Cup this weekend when they visit Championship club Birmingham City - but they will return to league action with a quartet of challenging fixtures as away games at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace sandwich a home double header with Manchester City and Sunderland.
Former England international Hart believes Farke’s men have given themselves a ‘really great chance’ of retaining their top flight status with their impressive form and has backed the Whites to round off ‘a really good season’ by staying up.
Speaking on TNT Sports after the draw against the Blues, the former England international said: “They’re on the right track, but nothing’s done yet with that run that they’ve got coming up. Aston Villa away is going to be a tough game, Manchester City at home, Sunderland, that Palace one looks massive, doesn’t it? They’ve given themselves a really great chance, and they all are believing that if they can get everyone fit, it’s going to be a really good season, I think for Leeds.”
What did Daniel Farke say about Chelsea 2-2 Leeds United?
COMEBACK POINT: For Leeds United and boss Daniel Farke, above, at Chelsea.placeholder image
COMEBACK POINT: For Leeds United and boss Daniel Farke, above, at Chelsea. | AFP via Getty Images
Speaking in his post-match press conference following Tuesday’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea, the Whites boss said: "Proper night of football. Great night for everyone involved with Leeds United. I'm very proud of my players and just have compliments for them. Chelsea in red hot form, just wins in the Premier League here and just wins in the Champions League. We have to come here as a newly promoted side, several key players out, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Anton Stach, Pascal Struijk, the backbone of the team. Some players' first starts after injury. The quality Chelsea has, if you go 2-0 down it can be a long night but we have this never-say-die attitude. We have this belief we can always come back."
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