Here is your Leeds United morning digest for Tuesday, November 24.
Orta heaps praise on ‘symbolic’ Phillips
Leeds United director of football Victor Orta has hailed the impact of Kalvin Phillips after his return from injury in Sunday’s goalless draw against Arsenal.
The 24-year-old midfielder, who has been the subject of an eye-catching mural from artist Akse P19, returned to the Whites side after several weeks out with a shoulder injury.
Speaking next to the striking work of art, Orta said: “It’s really impressive because Kalvin is a symbol of our club in this moment. Now it’s eternal, on a wall. I hope for him and for his family, he can be really emotional.
“He symbolises our whole team, and he represents them in this moment.
“The club is symbolised by a new England international like Kalvin Phillips, getting the promotion, saying no to Premier League offers one year ago and now we’re staying together.”
Leeds fans given update on return to Elland Road
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed supporters will be able to return to football stadiums around the country when the national lockdown ends.
Fans will be permitted to return in Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas following the introduction of a strict new tier system.
Outdoor venues in Tier 1 locations will be allowed to host up to 4,000 spectators, while in Tier 2 that number is reduced to 2,000.
Sporting events played in Tier 3 areas, meanwhile, will remain behind closed doors.
Leeds fans will now have to wait until the local restrictions are revealed before they can attend Elland Road and see the Whites in Premier League action for the first time in 16 years.
Corberan explains why he left Leeds
Huddersfield Town manager Carlos Corberan has explained why he chose to leave Leeds in the summer.
The Spaniard spent three years at the club, taking charge of the Under-23s and working as a first-team coach.
But despite his admiration for Marcelo Bielsa – who he credits with his “amazing growth” as a coach – Corberan made the decision to take on a new challenge and join Huddersfield.
“We had made it back into the Premier League. I was working alongside a coach like Marcelo. For a club with fans like Leeds. So why change?” he wrote in an article for the Coaches’ Voice.
“I always wanted to be a coach. You also understand that, if you want to keep growing, every stage has to come to an end at some point.
“After promotion, I felt there couldn’t be a better ending. Promotion was the best way to give thanks for all the support and trust that Marcelo, Andrea, Iván and Víctor, alongside his working group, had given me.
“I had been given a great opportunity and I wanted to pay them back in the best possible way. In football, it is fundamental to give the best of yourself to people who believe in you.
“There is nothing more important than the club you are at, otherwise you are at risk of valuing what you have only when you lose it. So you have to try to make the decision to leave on your own terms, and not ever have that decision taken by the people who hired you to be there.”
