“We are the champions, champions of Europe” goes the Leeds United chant and Luton Town boss Nathan Jones is on board with it.
Whites supporters can regularly be heard singing the song home and away because of the manner of their 1975 European Cup Final loss to Bayern Munich.
Referee Michel Kitabdjian’s performance is widely regarded as disgraceful by the United faithful after, in their eyes, single-handedly depriving Don Revie’s team of the trophy.
Forty-five years later and Jones has emerged as an unlikely supporter of this European claim at Elland Road.
In trotting out the predictable lines on Marcelo Bielsa’s side as the best in the league, Jones also said visiting the European champions was the big vision when he first joined Luton in 2016.
The Hatters are second-bottom in the Championship, but in sparkling form. Beaten once in their last eight, they head to West Yorkshire after beating Swansea City away.
“Going to have to [repeat the effort at Swansea], but it’s far better when you’ve had a win to go to Elland Road,” he told Luton’s official website.
“You go to Elland Road on the back of two negative results and suddenly the tiredness creeps in, suddenly the ball’s a little less round, suddenly Leeds become stronger.
“It’s not the case now. We’re in a good position, good shape. Leeds is the most difficult place to go in the Championship.
“I don’t know how they’ve got on today, I don’t know where they are or what people think, but, for me, they are the most difficult side to play against.
“It’s going to be a great test, but what a wonderful test. When I came here, 18th in League Two, we said we would be a Championship side.
“It was to go up against European champions Leeds United and that’s brilliant for us.”
