Leeds manager Paul Heckingbottom has had some high praise for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
There are many things to enjoy when it comes to the Championship this season, and while we may be nearing the end of the campaign, we are still able to look back at what has happened and praise the 24 teams involved for what has been one of the most entertaining years to date.
A big part of that has been the phenomenal form of league leaders Wolverhampton Wanderers, who have blown their competition away ever since August. It seems as if others are starting to take notice too – with one notable example being Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom.
“They’ve got a bit of everything and having been involved in the Championship for a long time on and off, they are one of the best teams I have seen in this league,” Heckingbottom told Sky Sports.
“They’re a team we know well and a team we have seen quite a bit of. I know what they are going to bring and there is no reason for them to change anything.”
While it may seem easy to claim that Wolves do not need to change anything, based on recent evidence that could not be further from the truth. The Midlands side are without a victory in their last three league games, which has seen their lead at the top of the division cut to just six points.
Heckingbottom is well aware that playing down the importance of this game will make a potential draw or victory seem all the more impressive, and that is a smart strategy on his part. After all, Leeds are only eight points off the playoffs, and a win over a side like Wolves could do wonders for their confidence heading into the final few months of the season.
Wolves, on the other hand, cannot allow this kind of praise to go to their heads or affect their confidence.
As a number of Wolves players have stated before they need to treat every game like it is a cup final, because if there is even a momentary lapse in judgement from anyone in the starting XI, the teams in this league will punish you.
Elland Road is a hard place to go and just because Wolves are expected to come away with all three points, that does not mean they need to play any differently.
Nuno needs to make the required changes and implement the same kind of free-flowing set-up that has worked wonders for them thus far.
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