Former Leeds United boss Paul Heckingbottom has issued a warning on their chances of promotion this season, saying ‘they have all their eggs in one basket.’
Heckingbottom was sacked as Whites boss in the summer and replaced by Argentine mastermind Marcelo Bielsa, who has led the club to an impressive 42 points from 21 games to sit in second at this point in the season.
The 41-year-old has now spoken out about Leeds’ chances of promotion this season, and warned that they must achieve that goal in the next two seasons or they will encounter issues down the line.
Speaking to the Express, he said: “They have all their eggs in one basket now in terms of this season or next [promotion]. For this sort of hierarchy, they’ve got to do it, they’ve committed to it and are going to give it a good go in terms of finance and throwing everything they can at it.
“Certainly this year or next without a doubt [they will be looking to go up]. The league is so competitive and challenging that whilst people have ambitions to go up, there is no guarantee.”
OPINION
Heckingbottom doesn’t actually say that much here. The dangers of a charge for promotion in the Championship are well known, especially at Leeds, with the club having spent 15 years or so in the division already. The Whites have fallen short in their quest for promotion so many times, and will be well aware of how hard it is to achieve such a feat. Yes, the hierarchy are giving it a bigger go this season than in many others in recent memory, but that does not mean they are unaware of the consequences should they fail. The fact is that Bielsa is the best manager Elland Road has seen in years, with his experience and tactical mastery bringing a breath of fresh air to West Yorkshire. Even if the Whites fail to get promoted this season, the style of football and the clear improvement among the squad bodes really well for next term, when they will be even more dangerous.