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Former Celtic, Aston Villa and Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino believes Leeds United will be ‘ripped to pieces’ in the Premier League if they win promotion from the Championship this season.
Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by Norwich made it five losses from the past seven games for Marcelo Bielsa’s side, and they were finally knocked off top spot by the Canaries.
The Elland Road club are still considered one of the favourites to win promotion to the top flight – as only goal difference keeps them off top spot – but the refrain of ‘Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again’ that came from the away stand on Saturday shows this is all too familiar an occurrence for the Whites.
And, in Bielsa, they have a manager who has his own tradition of falling apart; the Argentine’s methods are widely lauded, but he cannot keep them up for an entire season – something proven by his lack of silverware throughout a long career.
But for all the history going against them, Leeds could finally end their top flight absence and secure Premier League football for the first time in 15 years by the end of the season.
It will not be easy for Leeds in the first division, however, and Cascarino believes the Whites would go the way of Fulham this term – being whipping boys for England’s elite.
In his Times column, Cascarino writes: “I like the way that Marcelo Bielsa plays but if Leeds United are promoted to the Premier League, they are going to be like Fulham this year — they would be ripped to pieces.
“Bielsa’s game is very adventurous but it comes with risks, as Norwich City showed on Saturday. If you get good footballers on the ball, who can pass it, you are in trouble.
“The style is fantastic — it is great to watch and it puts lesser sides under immense pressure — but, unless they change a few things, Leeds would be smashed to pieces by top teams.”
Leeds return to Championship action against another of their promotion rivals, Middlesbrough, on Saturday afternoon.