Dominic Matteo comments on Leeds United not having financial backing

Follow us on Google Discover

Leeds United have not been in the Premier League since 2004.

Dominic Matteo has told Sky Sports that he is surprised that Leeds United have never had a big financial backer.

Leeds have not played in the Premier League since 2004, but the Whites do have a chance of going back to the top flight of English football this season.

The West Yorkshire outfit have booked their place in the Championship playoffs this season after narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League.

Leeds, though, did not spend a lot of money in the summer transfer window or in January 2019, as head coach Marcelo Bielsa has improved the players he inherited and has also given chances to some young players.

Former Leeds striker Matteo has admitted that he is surprised that the Whites have not had a big financial backer given that they are the only club in the city.

Matteo told Sky Sports: “It always interests me as well that Leeds haven’t really had that big backer, one-team city of Leeds United.

“I never understood that, I will never understand it until it probably happens. Maybe they have to get to the Premier League again for that to happen.”

Praise for Kalvin Phillips

Matteo has also praised Leeds central midfielder Kalvin Phillips, and believes that the 23-year-old – who has also been deployed in central defender by Bielsa this season – has matured this season.

According to WhoScored, Phillips has scored one goal and provided three assists in 41 Championship appearances for the Whites this campaign.

Matteo said about Phillips on BBC Radio Leeds: “I think he has been one of the most underestimated players in the Championship this year. He has been outstanding. He has really matured as a player.”