Leeds has moved from trailing Leicester by 17 points to being ahead on goal difference.
Enzo Maresca, Leicester City’s manager, has announced his expectations for Leeds United’s final eight Championship games, with a’reality’ warning and praise for the Whites.
Maresca’s Foxes appeared to be cruising to the Championship crown, having started the season with 19 wins in their first 23 games before Christmas, putting them 17 points ahead of fourth-placed Leeds at the turn of the year.
United, on the other hand, have since accumulated an astonishing 37 points out of a possible 39, putting them at the top of the table and ahead of Maresca’s team on goal difference, despite having played one more game.
Leicester will return to action on Good Friday at Bristol City, and Maresca has heaped “fantastic” praise on Leeds, predicting Manchester United, Ipswich Town, and Southampton will stick with his side over the next eight games.
The Foxes manager has also stated that runs like his team’s start to the season and United’s recent performance were not typical, admitting that Daniel Farke’s Whites deserve to be where they are.
Maresca stated, “I’ve been active in football for 25 years, and I know that winning games by 10-15 points over the second place is not realistic.
“And also because I respect Leeds, I respect Southampton, I respect Ipswich and I know that till the finish they are going to be there with us.
“So the reason why since we started I always stated this is not the reality, what they have done is something fantastic is because it’s not the reality.
“Winning 19 out of 23 games in the first round was unusual, especially in this situation.
“If Leeds, I think in their last 12 games they won 11 and they drew one, fantastic, they deserve to be where they are now with us.”