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Nicholas delivers verdict on tired Leeds

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Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has said that the weight of expectation of the Leeds United crowd could take its toll in comparison to their rivals in the hunt for the Championship title.

The Whites lead the rest of the second tier in hunting promotion back to the Premier League, with Norwich City and Sheffield United close on the tails of Marcelo Bielsa and his men.

Speaking of the situation at Elland Road, Nicholas insisted that a break for the players over the FA Cup weekend is an absolute must as the physical and mental pressure builds.

He told Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday (16/02, 14:16): “I think he’s quite a demanding manager, there’s a lot of intensity. This is an experienced guy but he’s seen the big picture and he’s obviously gone: ‘they’re running on empty so I have to give them that little facility to recharge their batteries.’

“It does take its toll, they get a lot of red cards his team and suspensions, slight injuries in there, there’s a lot to ask of it. Especially Leeds with the demand of the crowd now, first time in years they can feel something, this is an opportunity.

“There’s a little bit less stress at some of the other clubs and because of that, that drains you also. Take advantage of this period because before you know it, in the blink of an eye, (it will be) game after game after game.”

Opinion

There is no questioning that Bielsa’s demands from the sidelines will take their toll on Leeds this season but will it be the Elland Road crowd who are the ones to break the camel’s back? There is certainly a sense of expectation around the fans in the stands and understandably so. The Whites are one of the biggest clubs outside of the top flight and after so long away from the elite of English football they are desperate to get back to where they feel they belong. Will the pressure from their own fans weigh too heavily on the shoulders of the Leeds stars? Bielsa will have drilled what to expect into them from day one and so you can only expect that they will be able to live with it. Still, they are among one of the hardest working sides in the division and the culmination of both mental and physical strain could see them suffer between now and the end of the season.

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