Stuart Dallas has pointed to Leeds United’s past form from a standing start under Marcelo Bielsa, promising the squad will be in a good position to hit the ground running when the Championship season can restart.
Leeds sit top of the Championship table and just nine games away from securing a Premier League return. Yet, public safety has outweighed the passion for football, with the season on hold and a resume date yet to be agreed.
Yet, Leeds are preparing themselves for a fierce race for promotion when things kick off again, with Dallas moving to call on the record they hold under Bielsa at the start of the last two seasons.
In 2018/19, Leeds picked up 18 points from the opening nine games, whilst the current season saw them pick up 17 in the same amount of fixtures.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Dallas said: “When you look back at how we’ve started the season after a pre-season in the last couple of years, we have started really well and if we can start back as well as that, we will be in a good position.
“We’re just trying to keep on top of everything and staying as fit as we can, so when we do return to training, it will be all ball work then.”
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Last season, Leeds were fighting a similar battle in the Championship’s automatic promotion race, but missed out to Norwich City and Sheffield United in the end.
This season, they hold a seven-point lead over third placed Fulham, whilst West Brom still separate the Whites and the biggest threat to the top-two.
The Verdict
Everything is in Leeds’ hands and if they can restart in the same fashion they began the two previous seasons under Bielsa, the job will be done.
Picking up between 15 and 18 points would leave Fulham with a massive task to overturn Leeds’ lead, with just 27 points left to play for.
Whichever way it swings, it is going to be an intriguing race to watch when it all kicks off again.
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