The Whites made it all the way to the Championship Play-Off final last season, and they’re expected to go one better this time around.
Former Soccer Saturday host Jeff Stelling believes Leeds United can improve on last season’s performance and gain promotion back to the Premier League. The Whites were defeated 1-0 in the Championship Play-Off final by Southampton last season, bringing the 2023/24 season to a dismal end.
Daniel Farke’s team lost some key players during the recent transfer window after failing to gain promotion. Archie Gray and Crysencio Summerville have both signed to play in the Premier League. Despite these losses, Stelling and former Blackpool manager Ian Holloway anticipate the Whites to return to English football’s top division.
Speaking on talkSPORT yesterday morning, the two addressed Leeds’ first game of the season against Portsmouth, as well as their pre-season predictions for the Championship season, which begins this weekend.
“I think Leeds have a great chance,” Stelling told talkSPORT this morning. “I believe they will go higher. Mind you, I expected them to last season as well.
“Leeds play Portsmouth. What a start. That’s an excellent game. Two terrific sets of fans, with Portsmouth now back in the big leagues.”
“I felt for them,” Holloway admitted later in the show, reflecting on Leeds’ most recent campaign. “They retained as many of their best players as they could. To be honest, I don’t want their pay bill; Daniel Farke is fantastic and could still get them up.”
