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'I feel debilitated' - Ex-Leeds star responds to Agbonlahor post, delivers verdict on loss
Danny Mills feels “debilitated” after watching Leeds United suffer a 4-1 defeat to Leicester City last night at Elland Road.
The Whites endured their third Premier League defeat of the season and now sit 12th in the table following an effective counter-attacking performance from Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester side.
At full-time, former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor was quick to mock Mills on social media, stating that it is “not easy to beat Leicester”.
Speaking on talkSPORT this morning, Mills said that he had felt it would be a tough match for last season’s Championship winners and referenced Agbonlahor’s comments.
“It’s not a good morning is it, let’s be honest,” Mills told talkSPORT Breakfast on Tuesday.
“I feel debilitated, deliberated, I don’t know what I feel this morning! Gabby got stuck into me on social media, he did indeed. But in all fairness, I’ve said all along if Leeds finish 15th and they’re safe with five games to go, that’s a very very good season. Bizarrely, and I’m not just saying this, I thought Leeds would lose this game.
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“With the way Leicester play and the way they set up to playing on the counter attack, I thought it would really suit them against Leeds. I didn’t expect it to be after three minutes, admittedly, that was a little bit early, but I just felt Leicester with the way they play and the players they have with Harvey Barnes and Jamie Vardy, that pace they have up front, I thought it was going to be a tough night for Leeds.”
Managing expectations
Despite Leeds’ impressive start to the season, which has included wins over Sheffield United and Aston Villa, and an exhilarating draw with Manchester City, Mills believes that guaranteeing their survival remains the primary goal.
While Sheffield United finished in the top half following promotion the Premier League last season, Norwich City were relegated and Aston Villa struggled near the bottom for much of the campaign. Furthermore, the Blades are now sat 19th in the league with one point from their opening seven matches (via WhoScored).
As a result, the importance of consolidating on your place in the Premier League should not be overlooked and this is something that club owner Andrea Radrizzani emphasised shortly after they secured promotion.
“I have a clear vision,” he said (via Leeds Live).
“I need first to secure the team in the Premier League for the next three years, to stay there. If we are able to stay for three years, because the first two will be the most difficult as shown by statistics, most of the clubs can go back in the first few years.”
Given the exciting nature of Bielsa’s football and the impact Leeds have already made this season it is understandable that expectations have been raised, but Mills is correct in stating that the primary aim this season has to be simply staying in the division.
In other Leeds news, MOT View: How Bielsa found the perfect role for out of position Leeds United star