'Brutal' – Irvine Welsh asks Henry Winter if Leeds will get promoted; response is fascinating
It's the question on the mind of every single Leeds United fan everywhere – and Henry Winter knows it.
The senior Times journalist posted on Twitter to hail the "passion" of the Leeds fanbase, saying, "Today. Walking through central London, get stopped by Leeds fan. “Can we do it?” Sitting at brilliant @TheLPFF fund-raiser lunch next to another Leeds fan. “Can we do it?” Passion for #lufc everywhere. Hunger for promotion elsewhere too. Championship run-in going to be tense/epic."
His response picked up a question from Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh who said, "How did you answer the question though Henry?"
Winter's response was fascinating – optimistic but cautious and he name-checked both Patrick Bamford and Mateusz Klich.
"All psychological now, Irvine. If Leeds hold their nerve, if Bamford ups finishing rate, if Klich keeps playing like this, then yes. But it’s a brutal league. Fulham plus others a threat to second."
Everyone's talking about Leeds at the moment. And it's not just Leeds fans who want to see Marcelo Bielsa and his men in the Premier League.
As Winter said, Leeds fans are everywhere and getting that support base back in the Premier League will enrich the top flight.
As Winter said, though, the Championship is brutal and it's not necessarily going to be plain sailing.
It was fascinating to see Winter namecheck Klich, who hit a vital winning goal against Middlesbrough. He's not often namechecked as a key man – certainly not above players like Kalvin Phillips and Pablo Hernandez.
Bamford upping his scoring rate is a bit more obvious.
As the conversation between Welsh and Winter continued, there was a warning about the play-offs that will make Leeds fans shudder.
He said, "Championship final at Wembley the most tense/emotional/compelling day of the year."
We can do without that, please.
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