Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich has spoke out on the disappointment of missing out on automatic promotion to the Premier League claiming Leeds deserved to finish in the top two.
The Whites were made to settle for the play-offs in the Championship after a disastrous Easter period which saw Sheffield United beat them to second place.
Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post, the Polish international said: “Last week wasn’t nice, it was very hard for everyone and I think we all still feel the pain. It maybe sounds weird but we deserve to be in the first two.
“We didn’t make it, that’s football and we have to recover our confidence and go strong for the play-offs because it’s still doable. We’re able to be promoted to the Premier League but we’re going to do it the harder way.”
Klich scored the first goal in the draw against Aston Villa on Sunday and caused great controversy in a game which overshadowed the disappointing news of missing out on the top spots.
OPINION
Leeds can feel aggrieved with missing out on automatic promotion this season. Marcelo Bielsa has received great plaudits for his attacking possession based style which has seen the Whites in a battle for the top two since the first day of the season. After being first at Christmas, many believed that Leeds would be a guarantee to be promoted but they only have themselves to blame. If you do not finish your chances, it will soon come to haunt you and that is exactly what has happened to Leeds. The amount of chances they have wasted at important times is the difference between finishing third and being promoted automatically. Norwich and Sheffield United both have strikers that have guaranteed them goals in Billy Sharp and Teemu Pukki who have fired them above Leeds. The Whites have let the pressure get to them and this was highlighted in the defeat at home to Wigan, a team that had the worst away record in the league at the time and also had 10 men. There is no time to sulk for Leeds though, who need to pick themselves up or face a second disappointment in the play-offs.