Rafael Benitez, the former Newcastle United manager, believes that maintaining their current intensity will be key in Leeds United’s quest to secure promotion to the Premier League this season.
After eight Championship matches, the Whites, who won the FIFA Fair Play Award earlier this week, currently sit top of the Championship table, ahead of Swansea City on goal-difference.
Leeds are under pressure to secure promotion this term after falling at the play-off semi-final stage last season to Derby County, who, of course, haunted Leeds once more at the weekend, bagging a late equaliser at Elland Road, leaving Whites boss Marcelo Bielsa left to rue at what might have been.
Speaking to The Athletic, Benitez, who won promotion from the Championship with Newcastle in 2016/17, said: “I know that they did well last year and are this season.
“I know Bielsa. I knew him through my players in Valencia and I have some friends who know him. I met him in Italy for a talk so I know about his intensity and way of doing things.
“If they can keep this intensity until the end, they can achieve what they want to achieve.”
Despite the two managers having never faced each other in English football, they are considered to be two of the best managers to have ever experienced the Championship.
Benitez, of course, guided Newcastle to the title in 2017, edging out Brighton & Hove Albion in the process, and now Bielsa will be hoping to match Benitez’s achievement by leading Leeds to the same trophy come May.
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