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Leeds United have been promoted to the Premier League on Friday after West Bromwich Albion’s 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield ensured the Championship leaders will finish their 16-year exile from the top-flight. Marcelo Bielsa’s facet have been capable of have a good time promotion with out kicking a ball as second-placed Albion’s failure to take three factors assured Leeds will end within the high two. “We are back. Leeds United are Premier League,” the membership stated on their Twitter account moments after the ultimate whistle. Leeds are 5 factors clear on the high and so they can clinch the Championship title with a draw towards Derby at Pride Park on Sunday.
Albion’s defeat means third positioned Brentford will attain the top-flight for the primary time in 73 years in the event that they win their final two video games.
A tense 1-Zero win over Barnsley at Elland Road, secured by Michael Sollbauer’s personal aim, had moved Leeds to the brink of promotion on Thursday.
Now they’ll stay up for renewing previous rivalries with Manchester United and Chelsea subsequent season.
“It’s unbelievable and it’s still not sunk in,” Leeds captain Liam Cooper stated.
“Our club, our fans and our players have sacrificed so much. We’ve been in the doldrums for 16 years.
“To lead this group to promotion again to the place we all know we have all the time belonged is unbelievable. We deserve it. We’ve been one of the best group all season.”
Bielsa has earned iconic status in west Yorkshire after the Leeds boss finally put his club back on the football map.
Midfielder Kalvin Phillips saluted Bielsa’s contribution, saying: “When the supervisor first got here in I by no means thought I might be on this place two years down the road.
“He’s the best in the world. There’s no manager I would rather be under than Marcelo Bielsa.
“The Premier League is one of the best on this planet and after 16 years we’re again in there.”
Despite warnings from Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani to stay at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, Leeds fans gathered outside Elland Road to celebrate, but their emotion was understandable.
Leeds are one of England’s biggest clubs, with their legion of fanatical fans following them around the country and regularly attracting home crowds of over 30,000 despite years of underachievement.
Rich history
Their long-awaited return to the top tier completes a turbulent journey that saw them become a laughing stock when they languished in third tier obscurity.
Leeds have been away from the Premier League for so long that Twitter and Instagram didn’t exist the last time they played in the top-flight.
So it was fitting that Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla took to Twitter to celebrate, writing: “We are BACK! We are within the Premier League! Yessssssssssss!
“Many days dreaming of this Day. We deserve it. Proud of this TEAM, proud of our supporters.”
Liverpool midfielder James Milner, who began his profession at Leeds, tweeted: “Congratulations LUFC. Back where you belong.”
Leeds went by way of 14 completely different managers following their 2004 relegation from the Premier League, till the sleeping big was awoken by former Lazio and Marseille boss Bielsa.
Bielsa has turned the tide at a tortured membership infamously labelled the ‘Damned United’ by novelist David Peace and without end remembered as ‘Dirty Leeds’ within the minds of followers who noticed their no-holds-barred model within the Don Revie period.
The 64-year-old Argentine led Leeds inside touching distance of promotion in his first season, however they crumbled within the closing weeks and have been crushed within the play-of semi-finals by Derby.
Notorious for working his gamers so onerous in coaching that they usually burn out by the top of the season, Bielsa has benefitted from the coronavirus hiatus permitting his gamers to come back again refreshed for the ultimate furlong of the promotion race.
Champions of England in 1969 and 1974 below Revie, then in 1992 when Howard Wilkinson referred to as the pictures, Leeds have a wealthy historical past.
But since being relegated from the highest tier, Leeds have stumbled from monetary catastrophe off the pitch to despair on it.
Describing the membership’s ascent to the heady heights of the Champions League within the early 2000s, former chairman Peter Ridsdale claimed he had “lived the dream”.
Promoted
Their subsequent fall was a unending nightmare that hit its lowest ebb in 2007 when Leeds went into administration and have been relegated to the third tier for the primary time.
No marvel the much-travelled Bielsa, nicknamed El Loco for his intense character, is so beloved after simply two years in cost.
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