Jermaine Beckford has claimed that there people out there who ‘always want Leeds to fail’, but he hailed their ‘phenomenal’ supporters, as he told Sky Sports Football (16/07/20 at 4:55 pm).
Leeds are one point from making a return to the Premier League, and Beckford, who helped the club earn promotion from League One, shared how you have to be ‘mentally strong’ to meet the expectations of such a massive club.
Last season, the current crop of players at Elland Road found out how difficult it is in trying to cross that dotted line, but 12 months later, they are wiser, stronger, and more importantly, heading to England’s top-flight.
Beckford was full of praise for his former club and their supporters but claimed that there are those who are ‘always’ keen to see them slip-up.
“You have got to be mentally strong [to be able to push a big club like Leeds over the line],” Beckford told Sky Sports. “You definitely do because you know what it means to the city. You know what it means to yourself and everybody watching.
“There’s a lot of people that always want Leeds to fail. But, inside of Yorkshire, and inside of Leeds, the support that you get is phenomenal.
“So, all the players will be thinking about what it means to those fans, but they won’t be getting carried away. Marcelo Bielsa will not let that happen!”
Leeds play Derby County on Sunday, and it would be something special if they can secure their Premier League status against the Rams.
Last season, both clubs were embroiled in the much-talked-about and controversial Spygate scandal – not forgetting that then-manager, Frank Lampard, also knocked them out of the play-offs.
Therefore, it would be absolutely fitting if Leeds could earn promotion against Derby, and it’s fair to say that their fans will make sure to rub it in if it does happen.
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