Jim White predicts Leeds United to secure European football
Leeds United are ready for their second season in the Premier League after earning promotion in 2020, and talkSPORT host Jim White has tipped them to impress again.
The Elland Road outfit kick off the 2021-22 campaign with a trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United this weekend, and a tough game is anticipated.
White does not expect Leeds to have a greater season than the Red Devils or finish above them in the Premier League table, but he reckons they could push for a top-seven finish.
The veteran broadcaster said on talkSPORT on Monday [09/08/21], as shown on their official YouTube account: “You see I’ve got a feeling about Leeds, I think they will surprise a lot of people. I’m not saying they will finish higher than Manchester United, but I think they will have a cracking season.
“A cracking season means Europe…it could lead to European football.
“There is excitement in that part of the world, Bielsa has brought them a lot and he’s got a lot more to bring.”
Very possible
Leeds finished in ninth place last season, and there is nothing that should stop us from improving on that this term and going forward.
Seventh-placed Tottenham Hotspur – who clinched the Europa Conference League spot – were just three points above us, while only eight points separated us from fourth-placed Chelsea.
They are little margins on paper, and things would have been different had Leeds managed to string together a couple of more wins.
The onus is on head coach Marcelo Bielsa and his players to improve in 2021-22, and we really could do with at least two quality additions after signing Spanish left-back Junior Firpo early in the summer.
The Whites could do with a top central midfielder and a versatile attacker, and director of football Victor Orta is surely keen to get in at least one before the transfer window shuts.
A quality squad depth makes a lot of difference in the Premier League, and having a capable cover for Kalvin Phillips could have made us finish in the top-seven last season.
In other Leeds news, Jermaine Beckford shares surprise at Whites summer transfer business.