Marcelo mission
LEEDS fans dreaming of a European return this season should take a reality check, warns Danny Mills.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men finished ninth on their Premier League return last term – their highest position in 19 years.
The Whites’ renaissance has encouraged hopes of kicking on again and pushing for European qualification.
But Mills, part of the Leeds side who reached the Champions League semifinals in 2001, cautioned: “You have to be realistic. Leeds spent 16 years outside the Premier League and last season should really have been about survival and consolidation. They outperformed all expectations and finishing anywhere between eighth and 14th this season would be unbelievable.
“The secret is not to get carried away. There will be fans inside Elland Road this season who have never seen Leeds in the Premier League.
“They’ve just got to keep building and adding one or two players, as they are doing. The way Leeds play is unique and they will have ups and downs – with fantastic wins and dramatic losses.
“People are talking about Leeds getting back into Europe, but it’s been 18 years since they were last there.
“After another couple of mid-table finishes, they can start to be re-established in the Premier League and look to reach the next level.”
Left-back Junior Firpo has arrived from Barcelona and Jack Harrison has joined permanently from Manchester City, but more additions are expected.
Research undertaken as part of Sky Bet’s Fan Hope survey shows that 72 percent of Leeds fans expect their side to finish in the top six.
Mills added: “City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United are going to be strong – and Tottenham, Arsenal and Everton need to do better.
“Add in Leicester and that’s eight teams already who are going to be difficult to finish above.
“There are always a couple of surprises, but, for Leeds, the aim has to be safe with 10 games to go.
“Consolidation is the key because you look at Sheffield United now and that could be disastrous.
“You spend big on players with huge wages, get relegated and are then burdened with lots of players and contracts you can’t deal with.”
MANAGER: Marcelo Bielsa BIG SIGNING: Junior Firpo £12.8m from Barcelona KEY MAN: Kalvin Phillips (midfielder) VERDICT: Topping last season’s highly-impressive ninth will be tough, but another year of consolidation in mid-table will do just fine.