Norwich City manager David Wagner has previewed his team’s semi-final versus Leeds United.
The two teams will kick off this season’s Championship play-offs at lunchtime on Sunday, with Southampton and West Bromwich Albion following shortly afterwards.
Leeds are the favourites heading into the play-offs, according to OPTA’s Championship supercomputer, but after missing out on top two, Martin O’Neill believes Daniel Farke will have a hard task getting his team ready.
Leeds were in a strong position to secure automatic promotion just a few weeks ago, but they were unable to do so after only eight points from their final eight games.
If the Whites are to be promoted, they will need to make Championship history, as no team has ever won the play-offs after losing four of their last six matches.
Wagner makes ‘huge danger’ claim regarding Leeds and Southampton
Though Leeds fans are not overly optimistic heading into the weekend, they and Southampton are many pundits’ picks.
Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker both expect the latter to win, but Micah Richards and Troy Deeney believe Leeds will win.
Leeds and the Saints are unquestionably the strongest two teams in the top six, both on paper and in terms of league finishes, with many Premier League players still available from last season.
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Canaries manager Wagner added to the pressure on both clubs by implying that there will be ‘trouble’ if either side does not win promotion.
He stated: “One of Leeds or Southampton will fail to gain promotion, which I believe would give them a lot of trouble. Leeds are a large club with big players, big money, and enormous expectations.
“When you consider the financial power of the other clubs in the play-offs, and the points they collected, I think it’s fair to say they are the favourites.”
Leeds need to forget potential off-field consequences.
If a club has to play a second season of Championship football after relegation, parachute payments are cut from 55% to 45%.
With £190 million in overdue transfer installments hanging over Leeds, key sales would need to be made if they fail, as 49ers Enterprises has recognized.
However, off-field matters are beyond the players’ control and must be ignored.
Leeds have earned the title of favourites for a reason, and if they perform to their full potential, Farke’s side has a good chance of winning it all.
