Leeds United have ‘clear title advantage’ after what Pascal Struijk said
Leeds United are flying high atop the Championship but Pascal Struijk may have identified one particular area of strength in the Whites’ promotion push.
The Whites are sailing at the summit with 76 points in 35 games and are well on course for Premier League promotion.
The Whites are on a 17-game unbeaten streak and a lot of the credit goes to the way Daniel Farke has coached his team.
Before the game against West Brom, Leeds were on a five-game winning run, cruising in the eighth gear but their ride was brought to an halt as West Brom held the Championship leaders to a well-fought 1-1 draw.
Leeds United have a title advantage thanks to Daniel Farke
Leeds United secured two late victories against Sheffield United and Sunderland. However, they didn’t look quite as efficient against Tony Mowbray’s side.
Leeds defender Struijk when questioned about a drop-off in form and a possible ‘hangover’ from the two late wins, insisted that is not the case.
Indeed, he said that the fitness levels of the team to keep going as they did against Sunderland and the Blades was the key, and that could be an advantage for the Whites.
He told the Leeds United website: “No, I don’t think so. The last two games have been quite emotional, we gave a lot, but we managed to push until the very end and create chances. It’s just unfortunate we didn’t put it in the back of the net.
“[Late comebacks] shouldn’t be a normal thing, the fact it happens is really good because it shows that we are ready and fit for the full 90 minutes, but the quicker we can finish games off, the better for us.”
| Opposition | Home/Away |
| Portsmouth | Away |
| Milwall | Home |
| QPR | Away |
| Swansea | Home |
| Luton | Away |
From Struijk’s comments it is clear that Farke’s methods in training have helped the team to improve their fitness and play the entirety of the 90 minutes at high intensity.
The Championship side’s high level of performance under Farke has been in part down to players’ incredible fitness levels. The physical conditioning has also instilled resilience in the squad and accounted for some late drama that could prove crucial come May.
An example of Leeds’ tenacity was seen in their 3-1 win over Sheffield United. The Whites were one goal down but the team continued to knock on the Blades’ door with intensity. Finally, an opening was created through Junior Firpo, who equalised in the 72nd minute. Ao Tanaka then scored to give Leeds their lead just before stoppage time and Joel Piroe then scored a stunner to kill the tie and complete a resilient comeback.
The enhanced fitness levels have directly translated to better performance under Farke.
Leeds in a comfortable position for promotion
Farke’s side have garnered 22 wins in 35 games and have been beaten only thrice this term. Their consistency coupled with their high intensity levels make them a very difficult opposition for any side.
They are three points ahead of Sheffield United who are in second place, whereas eight points ahead of third-placed Burnley.
Leeds are expected to have an easier run in their remaining Championship fixtures as out of 11 games, only two sides are in the top half of the table. The remaining nine clubs are in the bottom half of the table and are lacking the quality to match up against the Whites.
Leeds seem to be cruising to a Premier League promotion under the German manager.