Here is your Leeds United morning digest for Tuesday, June 9.
The cost of behind-closed-doors football
Our data journalists have taken an in-depth look at the lost revenue for Leeds United with the remainder of the Championship season without match-going supporters.
Five of Leeds’ nine remaining fixtures will take place in a near-empty Elland Road, which means a huge chunk of lost income from tickets and food and drink sales.
Last season’s published accounts reveal a total turnover of £48.92m, and more than a quarter of that (26%) coming in from matchdays - £12.61m.
Working out at last season’s average matchday income of £485,108, that means United are losing out on something in the region of £2.43m for the remainder of the season.
Here’s that piece in full.
Liam Cooper lays down the gauntlet ahead of promotion push run-in
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper is in a bullish mood ahead of the final nine matches of the club’s promotion push this season, and believes his team-mates share his sentiments.
With the Championship campaign resuming in less than a fortnight, Leeds get back underway with a seven-point lead over third-place Fulham, who visit Elland Road in the second weekend of action back.
“We have to go full tilt for nine games,” Cooper said in a social media post on the club’s Twitter account.
“We have to be strong. I believe we’re the fittest, strongest team.
“There’s not one lad that doesn't believe we can not go and win the Championship.”
The stat that puts Bielsa’s Leeds among European football’s giants
Only four teams in Europe’s top five leagues, and England’s top four tiers, have averaged more possession than Leeds this season.
In a testament to the total control and assertive style of play instilled by Bielsa, only the four reigning champions of Germany, Spain, France and England - Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City - have averaged more possession than Leeds this season.
Bielsa’s men are top of the Championship possession charts, averaging 60.1%. Pep Guardiola’s Man City (61.6%) are the only side in England to have averaged more this season.
That stat comes via twitter account Playmaker_EN.
