The race for automatic promotion to the Premier League looked to have only one spot available as Leicester City were dominating the division. However, now as many as four teams will have their eye on a top-two finish.
Leeds United have been part of the chasing pack for the entire season, and have recently dropped back out of the automatic places after taking just one point from the last three matches.
Lee Sharpe is a man who knows about the pressures of plying your trade at Elland Road, having signed for the club in the summer of 1996 from bitter rivals Manchester United.
Sharpe’s time at the club was disrupted by injury, restricting him to just 35 appearances before he eventually left for Bradford City.
The Real EFL was given an exclusive interview with the former England winger and asked Sharpe whether The Whites would be at a disadvantage going into the playoffs should they miss out on automatic promotion, given that they have been in the hunt for a top-two finish all season.
“I certainly think if you are chasing and pushing for automatic promotion all season like Leeds have been then, all of a sudden at the last minute you drop into the playoffs, I certainly think that is a psychological barrier that you have to overcome.”
The 52-year-old former Leeds man is hopeful that, should that happen, Whites manager Daniel Farke and his players can regroup and go again.
“If that does happen, you just hope that the manager has got enough about him and the players have got enough about them to build themselves up and raise their game for a couple of games to get themselves up. Yeah, a very tricky one when you’ve been chasing the top two and you end up sliding back into the playoffs.”
The opportunity to talk to Lee Sharpe was provided by sports betting site BetVictor.
Writer’s View
Playing for a club the size of Leeds United comes with added pressure and expectation. Fans and those within the club would have been hopeful of an automatic return to the Premier League.
With more twists and turns expected, promotion may well be the season’s outcome. However, should they lose out agonisingly at the end of the campaign, refocusing on the playoffs will need all of the experience within the group in order to get over the line.
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