Ian Wright has admitted that he hopes Leeds United are able to put their poor form behind them and avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Whites have been slowly dragged back into the battle at the bottom with a really disappointing run of results which ultimately led to Marcelo Bielsa’s exit.
However, the hierarchy at Elland Road acted fast and appointed Jesse Marsch as his replacement in the hope he will keep his new club in the top flight.
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Since returning to the Premier League, Leeds have been the subject of plenty of praise for the way in which they played under Bielsa.
The front-foot approach against every team in the division brought along lots of plaudits last season but this term, has led to the complete opposite.
Without key players like Kalvin Phillips, Liam Cooper and Patrick Bamford, the system hasn’t worked and Leeds have conceded more goals than any other team.
There is a great belief that when the absent players return, they will find a respectable finish through playing football the right way, not by parking 10 men behind the ball every game.
For that reason, Wright is among those who hope Leeds are able to secure their top-flight status.
“I’ve seen Leeds play in football matches where you’re thinking ‘my god this is amazing’ with ordinary players,” he said on Wednesday’s episode of the Wrighty’s House podcast with Ringer FC.
“Just seeing these players in this system, how hard they’re working in the system, how they’re absolutely running over teams and you think whether it’s sustainable and whether they can keep doing this but it was unbelievable to watch.
“This is why I’m praying that Leeds stay up because I don’t want this to end like this for Leeds.
“I want Bielsa to be the person that brought them back here to the Promised Land, gave them what he gave them for a while and gone so that Jesse Marsch can take it over and make them a bit more structured defensively and hopefully, going forward, they can still press.
“If I’m being totally honest, Leeds are a Premier League football club and they’re the kind of club that you want in the Premier League.
“I’m not saying that ‘this club should be in and that club shouldn’t be in’ but Leeds and what they bring should be here. I’m hoping that he can turn that around for them because it’s been magnificent up to this point for Leeds.”
While Leeds are certainly not everyone’s favourite club, there is a widespread belief that clubs of that size should be plying their trade consistently at the football’s top table.
Even though it ended in defeat, the recent clash with Manchester United epitomised why the Whites belong at this level with the eyes of plenty of football fans around the world glued to proceedings at Elland Road.
Hopefully now, with 12 games to go, Marsch is able to turn the recent poor form around and inspire an ascent away from the relegation zone.
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