Darragh MacAnthony predicts Leeds to make top six next season, Champions League soon after
Leeds United are a club going places and could be competing in the Champions League very soon, according to Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony.
He also thinks Leeds will finish in the top six next season and that the tie-up with the 49ers will turn them into a ‘mammoth’ again.
The Posh man knows all about running a successful football club, having taken Peterborough from League Two to the Championship during his 14-year tenure.
They are currently vying for promotion to the Championship once more but MacAnthony has been paying a lot of his attention to the Whites instead.
And he is very impressed with what he has seen off the pitch, recognising how key the 49ers investment will be as well as praising those running the club.
Appearing on episode 49 of the Hard Truth Podcast, he said, “I think Leeds, within the next three or four years if not sooner, will be in the Champions League spots.
“This is a big club. It’s run by some clever people. I really see Leeds on the ascendancy.
“Next year I would say top six. That club is just building and building. They’ve sold equity to the 49ers, commercially it’ll be a mammoth again.”
Going places
Andrea Radrizzani plans to take us into Europe and there are many positive signs which suggest we are on our way.
Firstly, we are just four points shy of seventh place currently – which should be enough for the Europa League this season – and this is our first year back in the Premier League.
Also, we have an outstanding manager capable of improving every player at the club and a recruitment team our rivals should be jealous of.
We brought in three international players last summer and the other signing, Raphinha, has proved to be the best of the lot.
Leeds clearly hold appeal to players and we should be able to add stars this summer who can take us to the next level.
The win over Manchester City shows we can compete with any side at this level and with a bit more consistency we can easily break into the European places.
Reaching the Champions League is another level above but it is rewarding to see MacAnthony recognising the project we have in place.
That suggests we are making real progress and hopefully his prediction of qualifying for the Champions League within three to four years comes true.
In other Leeds United news, ‘England’s finest’ – BBC set to broadcast Leeds special on Sat as Ian Wright visits Thorp Arch.