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PL star says it’s ‘much nicer’ seeing Leeds promoted than West Brom, hails Bielsa

Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
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Photo by Kevin Barnes – CameraSport via Getty Images

Chris Wood has admitted that it’s ‘much nicer’ seeing Leeds United win Premier League promotion than it is West Bromwich Albion.

Marcelo Bielsa led United back to the promised land for the first time in 16 years this past season.

Leeds utterly dominated the Championship last term and finished 10 points clear of West Brom back in second – and 12 clear of the playoff places.

It’s going to be an emotional return to the big time for the Elland Road faithful – even if they can’t watch the matches in person to begin with – after their financial issues of 2004, and relegation to League One three years later.

But they’re back now and Burnley striker Wood – who played for Leeds and the Baggies – has admitted to TVNZ that he’s delighted for the West Yorkshire club, tipping them to thrive against England’s elite next term and beyond.

Wood, a £15 million departure from Elland Road in 2017, said: “West Brom have been up and down and have been in the Prem for a long time so it was much nicer seeing Leeds get up there. It’s been way too long, I enjoyed my two years there and I’m hoping to see them stay up for a long period of time. I think with the manager they’ve got they will be.

“They’ve just been a big club in the wrong division for a long period of time. And rightly so, because they were run poorly 15 years ago. But they’re fantastic now, they’ve got a great manager behind them, they’ve got a team playing absolutely incredible.”

Leeds kick off their season with a trip to champions Liverpool on September 12, while West Brom are home to Leicester City on the same day.

Chris Wood of Leeds United celebrates scoring the opening goal during the Sky Bet Championship match between Birmingham City and Leeds United at St Andrews (stadium) on March 3, 2017 in… (Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)