Stuart Dallas has vowed to ensure Leeds United avoid any complacency after insisting teams will want to see them fail next season as expectations rise.
The Whites finished ninth in their first top-flight campaign for 16 years following promotion from the Championship.
Dallas was an integral part of the team, starting every league match, and his performances have earned him a new three-year deal at Elland Road.
However, whilst the players have recognised last season's achievement, Dallas has insisted nobody can rest on the laurels in 2021/22, to ensure the club continues moving in the right direction to challenge at the top of the division.
"I think we have set that level, we've set the benchmark," Dallas told LUTV.
"Expectations will now rise, the pressure is going to rise, there will be more of a microscope on us because of how we did last season.
"People will look at us, wanting us to fall, wanting us to fail because that's the way the football world works, especially at a club like this. Not everyone likes us but we like that and it gives us a pressure.
"It's one we have to embrace, I like forward to it. We have to be realistic but it's important that we aim high, we're ambitious and we need to try and catch the teams that finished above us last season.
"It's going to be difficult but the club will probably bring players in to try and improve us and we have to work harder than we did last year. It's one we're looking forward to."
Dallas has been at Leeds since 2015 after arriving from Brentford and he has watched the club transform from a mid-table Championship side to a top-half Premier League outfit.
Alongside the likes of Liam Cooper, Luke Ayling and Patrick Bamford, Dallas is relishing his senior role within the squad to maintain standards.
"Absolutely, with my age, I'm 30 now but I've been around the club, I know what it means to people to represent this club," he explained.
"I know how much it means to the fans to have a team that wants to represent and play for the club. I feel there is a number of us in this group that are leaders, certainly off the pitch, we can put our arms around young kids when they need it and try to give them advice.
"We can learn from them too. They're enthusiastic and there is a lot of talent to keep pushing us. It is important that the senior lads continue to keep the group together.
"It's what we're about. We have a fantastic group of players here and everyone is really close together. That's what is needed to keep this club going in the right direction.
"It's important to have that core in the group to maintain standards and not allow anyone to slack."
