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SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2020

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LEEDS: United supporters gather outside their ground to celebrate the club’s return to the after a gap of 16 years, in Leeds, northern England on July 17, 2020. — AFP Leeds promoted to Premier League ‘We’ve been in the doldrums for 16 years’

LONDON: Leeds United were promoted to the longed is unbelievable. We deserve it. We’ve been Leeds are one of England’s biggest clubs, with David Peace and forever remembered as ‘Dirty Premier League on Friday after West Bromwich Al- the best team all season.” their legion of fanatical fans following them around Leeds’ in the minds of fans who saw their no-holds- bion’s 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield ensured the Cham- Bielsa has earned iconic status in west the country and regularly attracting home crowds of barred style in the era. pionship leaders will end their 16-year exile from the after the Leeds boss finally put his club back on the over 30,000 despite years of underachievement. The 64-year-old Argentine led Leeds within top-flight. football map. Kalvin Phillips saluted touching distance of promotion in his first season, ’s side were able to celebrate pro- Bielsa’s contribution, saying: “When the manager RICH HISTORY but they crumbled in the final weeks and were motion without kicking a ball as second placed Al- first came in I never thought I would be in this po- Their long-awaited return to the top tier com- beaten in the play-of semi-finals by Derby. bion’s failure to take three points guaranteed Leeds sition two years down the line. pletes a turbulent journey that saw them become a Notorious for working his players so hard in will finish in the top two. “We are back. Leeds laughing stock when they languished in third tier training that they often burn out by the end of the United are Premier League,” the club said on their obscurity. Leeds have been away from the Premier season, Bielsa has benefitted from the coronavirus Twitter account moments after the final whistle. League for so long that Twitter and Instagram didn’t hiatus allowing his players to come back refreshed Leeds are five points clear at the top and they exist the last time they played in the top-flight. for the final furlong of the promotion race. can clinch the Championship title with a draw So it was fitting that Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Champions of England in 1969 and 1974 under against Derby at Pride Park today. Albion’s defeat We’re back! Casilla took to Twitter to celebrate, writing: “We are Revie, then in 1992 when Howard Wilkinson called means third placed Brentford will reach the top- BACK! We are in the Premier League! the shots, Leeds have a rich history. But since being flight for the first time in 73 years if they win their Yessssssssssss! relegated from the top tier, Leeds have stumbled last two games. “Many days dreaming of this Day. We deserve it. from financial disaster off the pitch to despair on it. A tense 1-0 win over Barnsley at Elland Road, se- Proud of this TEAM, proud of our supporters.” Describing the club’s ascent to the heady heights cured by Michael Sollbauer’s own goal, had moved Liverpool midfielder James Milner, who started of the Champions League in the early 2000s, former Leeds to the brink of promotion on Thursday. Now “He’s the best in the world. There’s no manager I his career at Leeds, tweeted: “Congratulations chairman Peter Ridsdale claimed he had “lived the they can look forward to renewing old rivalries with would rather be under than Marcelo Bielsa. “The LUFC. Back where you belong.” dream”. Their subsequent fall was a never-ending Manchester United and Chelsea next season. Premier League is the best in the world and after 16 Leeds went through 14 different managers fol- nightmare that hit its lowest ebb in 2007 when “It’s unbelievable and it’s still not sunk in,” Leeds years we’re back in there.” Despite warnings from lowing their 2004 relegation from the Premier Leeds went into administration and were relegated captain said. “Our club, our fans and Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani to stay at home League, until the sleeping giant was awoken by for- to the third tier for the first time. our players have sacrificed so much. We’ve been in amid the coronavirus pandemic, Leeds fans gath- mer Lazio and Marseille boss Bielsa. No wonder the much-travelled Bielsa, nicknamed the doldrums for 16 years. “To lead this team to pro- ered outside Elland Road to celebrate, but their Bielsa has turned the tide at a tortured club infa- El Loco for his intense personality, is so beloved motion back to where we know we’ve always be- emotion was understandable. mously labelled the ‘Damned United’ by novelist after just two years in charge. — AFP

pard’s first Premier League game in charge. They also good stuff, but you still lose. “And in the league we four finish in the league, admitted the VAR decisions Lampard tells Chelsea suffered a 2-1 loss to United in the League Cup fourth had a good first half, missed opportunities and they have given a helping hand to their rivals during their round, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team extended took theirs. “So I think you have to respect the fact recent run. to forget revenge talk their dominant run against the Blues with a 2-0 that they’re a good team, we can all see that in their “There is always a human element to VAR still, of league victory at Stamford Bridge in February. recent performances, but I’m not overly concerned course. Clearly they have to make a decision,” Lam- Lampard conceded United were largely the better with the games that have gone by. I just want to win pard said. “The confusing thing about some of the re- against Man Utd team on those occasions and the Chelsea manager is the one in front of us.” cent decisions and the one last night (Thursday) is focused only on getting his side set up right this time. United have seen a host of VAR decisions go in that it’s a very clear and obvious decision that is LONDON: Frank Lampard has warned his Chelsea “Knowing the circumstances of the games, fair play their favour recently, including two key calls in their wrong, that didn’t get reviewed and changed. stars not to get distracted by talk of revenge against we’ve lost three, that’s just a fact, and I’m not into re- league win at Crystal Palace on Thursday. Wilfried “And a few of those have happened. And that is Manchester United when they clash in today’s FA venge, I just want to win the game in front of us on Zaha was denied a penalty just moments before Mar- strange. “I would like to think sometimes you have to Cup semi-final. Lampard’s side have been beaten Sunday,” Lampard told reporters on Friday. cus Rashford put United ahead, with Jordan Ayew be level-headed. Some may go against you or not, but three times by United already this season. “We played some good stuff in the Carabao Cup. also seeing a goal ruled out for offside. it just seems a period where Manchester United have Chelsea were thrashed 4-0 at Old Trafford in Lam- We played a very changed team and played some Lampard, whose side are battling United for a top got a few in their favour with VAR.” — AFP