Rafael Benitez has claimed Leeds United can achieve success this campaign if they maintain their current intensity throughout the Championship season.

Marcelo Bielsa's side have enjoyed an impressive start to the season and are currently sitting top of the Championship after eight games, but their last outing saw them held to a 1-1 draw by Derby County at Elland Road.

The Whites are targeting promotion this season after falling short in the play-off semi-finals last term, and they have made a solid start by winning five of their first eight league matches.

Speaking to The Athletic, former Newcastle boss Benitez has now commented on Bielsa's Leeds side and has backed them to achieve promotion this season if they keep up a high level of intensity.

"I know that they did well last year and are this season," Benitez said in The Athletic Q&A.

"I know Bielsa. I knew him through my players in Valencia and I have some friends who know him. I met him in Italy for a talk so I know about his intensity and way of doing things.

"If they can keep this intensity until the end, they can achieve what they want to achieve."

Benitez is currently managing Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang after leaving his role as Newcastle manager over the summer. The Spaniard got Newcastle promoted from the Championship in 2017, and he also managed Chelsea and Liverpool during his time in England.

The Verdict

Benitez's comments suggest that Leeds' success relies on the high intensity that Bielsa demands from his players, and this might be where the side went wrong last season as they lost some of that energy.

A string of poor results towards the end of the season saw Leeds lose their chance for automatic promotion after looking strong for most of the season until that point.

It is now important Leeds maintain the same performance standard throughout this season if they are to go one better, and Bielsa may need to rotate his squad accordingly in order to keep the playing intensity high.

Benitez is also speaking as someone who successfully negotiated the Championship with Newcastle, so he knows what Leeds will need to do if they are to make it to the Premier League.