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Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images
Photo by Pete Norton/Getty Images

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Harry Kewell discusses what is different between Leeds this season and last, under Marcelo Bielsa

Will Butcher
Will Butcher

(November 27) that he believes Leeds United are in a better position to gain promotion to the Premier League this season, when compared to Marcelo Bielsa’s first season in charge.

Leeds finished in third place last season and suffered defeat in the Championship play-offs to Derby County. This time around, they sit in second place after four consecutive wins – and are five points clear of third-placed Fulham.

Bielsa has stayed at Elland Road for another season and has kept much of the same side that finished third last season, apart from two major players in Pontus Jansson and Kemar Roofe. Otherwise, it is very similar.

Kewell – who is hated by Leeds fans for joining Galatasaray after fans of the Turkish side stabbed two Whites supporters in 2000 – believes Leeds are closer to promotion this time around because Bielsa has Championship experience under his belt.

(Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)
“100% he [Bielsa] will have learnt something from last season,” . “He will have prepared his team the right way this time. Last season, they ran out of gas – he pushed them too hard. This season, he will have organised them a bit better.
“If he can get his team there or thereabouts with eight games to go, he’ll know that he can push them on again.”

TBR’s view – Can Leeds gain promotion this time around?

Last season, Leeds were lacking the depth and the first-team experience to go all the way. The bench in the second leg against Derby County included outcast Izzy Brown and youngsters Jack Clarke, Pascal Struijk, Mateusz Bogusz and Robbie Gotts.

This season, there is much more depth about Leeds – and indeed, less injuries. On Tuesday night, Leeds fielded a bench of Illan Meslier, Barry Douglas, Jack Clarke, Helder Costa, Gaetano Berardi, Jamie Shackleton and Gjanni Alioski.

If injuries remain at a limit, Leeds will go all the way.

(Photo By Ben Radford/Getty Images)