Wolverhampton v Leeds United - Whites success is blueprint for promoted clubs

FOR those aspiring Championship clubs who like to think big and consider themselves to be worthy of much better, the recent success of Wolves and Leeds United will have drawn envious glances from several boardrooms.
Leeds United's Jack Harrison (right) celebrates with his team-mates.Leeds United's Jack Harrison (right) celebrates with his team-mates.
Leeds United's Jack Harrison (right) celebrates with his team-mates.

The pair have proved what can be achieved and dispelled the notion that finishing fourth from bottom is the apex to the ambition of teams making their first steps in the Premier League after promotion from the second tier.

Marking a true impact takes much longer than one season, as Leeds head coach Marcelo Bielsa wisely suggests.

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His side sit in mid-table, comfortably above the relegation zone and one place below them are a Wolves side who have finished in seventh place in their two completed seasons back in the top-flight after winning the Championship title at a canter in 2017-18 – just as United did last term.

Wanderers have also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and last eight of the Europa League since being back on the big stage.

Doing it consistently over time is the real trick, as Sheffield United are sadly discovering to their cost. It should also be noted that Wolves have also not had things entirely their own way throughout 2020-21.

Bielsa observed: “To consolidate in the Premier League is more than one year where things have gone good or bad.

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“What is very important is to have a group of 18 starters where you do not notice the difference where one player comes out and another one comes in.

“You must have a group of young players who must also contribute and have an academy who regularly have players who can potentially play a part.

“To build a team is not a task you do in one year. We made our signings at the beginning of the year. We made a big effort for this. We made a big effort to conserve (keep) (Jack) Harrison and Helder Costa and to bring in (Robin) Koch, Raphinha, (Diego) Llorente and Rodrigo.

“To adapt your squad is a difficult, complicated task. It is very important to develop some players in the case of Pascal (Struijk) and (Jamie) Shackleton.

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“The players that you (Leeds) have to look to improve on are another good right-back, number eight, a good centre-back or a good defensive midfielder. We have to make reference to how much it would cost to get good players in those positions.

“The example is Leeds wanted to buy Ben White for £30m, but were not able to. We have to go in a careful manner and evolve the group.”

One player who Leeds have not been able to count upon as one of their regular starters so far is defender Diego Llorente, who has featured for just 91 minutes since his arrival for £17m from La Liga outfit Real Sociedad in the autumn.

The 27-year-old is available again for this evening’s game at Molineux and if anyone is due some good fortune on the injury front, it is surely the Spaniard.

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Llorente has succumbed to three separate injuries and made just two appearances for Leeds, with his last one coming on his first start in the 2-1 win at Newcastle United on January 26.

He lasted just nine minutes before exiting the fray with a hamstring issue and it was hard not to feel for the centre-half.

Equally, there are justifiable fears as to whether his body can cope and adjust to the most competitive top tier in world football.

For his part, Bielsa is not able to provide a definitive answer.

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Questioned as to whether Llorente is just unlucky or if his body is struggling to handle the physical demands of English football, he remarked: “He is an international with Spain and as a player, he came through Real Madrid’s youth teams.

“It is difficult to ignore with the injuries he has had and there is only one satisfactory response to the question – that he does not repeat another of the injuries and that he is able to play regularly and show his qualities.

“As well as his desire, he works in a big way to make sure this happens. The only way to have consistency in your response is if you come back and play with regularity. If he comes back and he is unable to play regularly, then the response cannot be consistent.

“That is why we have to wait and see what happens.”

Bielsa is more unequivocal in his view that Illan Meslier, who made several mistakes in last Sunday’s 4-2 loss at Arsenal, will shrug off the sort of disappointment that is an occupational hazard for all goalkeepers.

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Bielsa added: “There is no goalkeeper that does not make any mistakes. And goalkeepers consolidate themselves when they get over mistakes they have made.

“It is normal that they have critics who forget about what you have done in the past and fix themselves on the present.”

Last six games: Wolves DLWDLW; Leeds LWWLWL.

Referee: D Coote (Notts).

Last time: Wolves 4 Leeds 1, November 22, 2017; Championship.

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