Former Leeds United defender Ian Harte says Luke Ayling's claim that the Whites aren't fit enough is hard to accept. The right-back made the damning assessment following their 3-1 defeat at West Ham United - a result that leaves them needing a miracle on the final day of the season against Tottenham Hotspur.
"Very disappointed," he said following the defeat. "We started the game well, we go 1-0 up, then we concede a goal again and then we come off at half-time and we feel ok but the second half just isn't good enough. We just couldn't seem to go again. We put so much into the first half and then in the second half we just had nothing. It's very disappointing
"I think in years gone past teams have feared us when it comes to a running point of view, we had our fitness and stuff, but it just doesn't feel like it's there. This season we start so well, we started bright, we scored a goal, then they score a goal. Just like that, it can happen at this level, but then we came out for the second half and we just can't go again. It's very disappointing."
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However, Harte says there's no point sulking about being in a relegation battle and Leeds have to earn the right to be a Premier League outfit. He told FourFourTwo via Freebets.com, “I disagree with what he said there. Not fit enough? Leeds always run. They do score goals, but they've conceded more than they've scored.
“For a player to come out and say ‘I don't think we're fit enough’ is hard to accept, because every kind of training session is monitored.
“All players have little packs on the backs; you can see the running stats and you can't hide away from anything nowadays.
“Even when they're playing first-team games like at West Ham, all of those same stats are collated. You’ve just got to deal with the fact you’ve lost your game. You need to put your body on the line and accept that you’re in a relegation battle.
“There's no point in sulking about it, you got to go and earn the right to play in the Premier League next season.”
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