Graeme Souness shares Leeds United promotion admission ahead of playoff clash v Southampton
Leeds United are “slight favourites” ahead of their playoff final clash with Southampton at Wembley, according to Graeme Souness.
Daniel Farke’s side make the trip to London for Sunday’s (26 May) clash with Russell Martin’s Saints as they look to make an immediate return to the Premier League having missed out on automatic promotion.
Although Southampton have got the better of Leeds twice already this season and even impressed Souness in their defeat to Liverpool, the former Sky Sports pundit admits he expects the Whites to win at Wembley.
Writing for the Daily Mail on Friday (24 May) he said: “I’ve played in European Cup finals but I think I’d be more nervous playing in a Championship Play-off Final at Wembley.
“Lose a cup final and you can maybe move on with the next game, lose this and you will have the whole summer to dwell on it. Then at the start of the following season, you find yourself back in the Championship and some will be feeling very sorry for themselves.
“It’s the richest game in football and it’s all about playing in the Premier League. Get there and your value goes up, your stock goes up and your salary. Some of these players could be doubling their wages.
“I’d say Leeds are slight favourites, but I’ve liked the way Southampton have played at times. They were very good in the first half against Liverpool at Anfield against Jurgen Klopp’s press and they have beaten Leeds twice this season.
“There is so much pressure, it is all about who deals with that the best.”
Will Leeds United beat Southampton to promotion in the playoff final and be promoted to the Premier League?
Ultimately, it won’t matter too much what pundits say when the two sides step on the turf at Wembley, but the general consensus among neutrals appears to be that Leeds United are the ones to watch and for good reason.
Even without Patrick Bamford to call upon, Leeds tore Norwich City from pillar to post in the second leg of the semi-final at Elland Road and they will back themselves to do the same again in the capital on Sunday.
The final-day defeat to the Saints was poor and full of individual mistakes, but ultimately it didn’t really matter to Farke’s side as they would have missed out on automatic promotion regardless of the result.
Hopefully, they will be able to handle the immense pressure that Souness has already mooted and come out on top in the biggest game of the season, otherwise, it could be a summer of change at Elland Road.
In other Leeds United news, Adam Pope has shared whether Will Ferrell will be in attendance at Wembley for the playoff final
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