Norwich City colossus Tim Krul has ripped into Leeds United for failing to live up to the “massive” hype of this season.
The 6ft 4in Dutch goalkeeper (source: Transfermarkt) revealed Daniel Farke’s masterplan for how to upset the odds at Elland Road in the wake of an unexpected 3-1 triumph that enable Norwich to leapfrog the hosts and climb back into the Championship top spot.
“Leading up to this game we said that [Leeds will be worried about falling apart again],” said Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul. “Like the hype was massive, but they are not unbeatable.
“The manager made it clear – respect them, be humble, but hit them, because they’re not Barcelona. No, they’re not.”
OPINION
Sure, there has been plenty of hype about ‘Bielsa ball’, and Leeds’ fans have understandably revelled in how the master coach has transformed the team’s fortunes on a budget that pales in comparison with the Championship big spenders such as Aston Villa, West Brom and Middlesbrough. But, has the modest and understated Bielsa ever claimed his side are the new Barcelona? Or, that he has reinvented the recipe for Championship success? Definitely not. That said, Leeds are enduring a slump that they need to emerge from before it threatens to engulf them and destroy their automatic promotion challenge. They have now lost four of their last six league games and, though they remain in the automatic promotion places, third-place Sheffield United are just three points adrift. Another promotion contender awaits them when they travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday. Defeat would mean the Yorkshire giants entering crisis territory.