Micah Richards has admitted his joy at seeing Leeds United survive relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season. A 2-1 win at Brentford when it mattered most, helped by Burnley’s defeat against Newcastle, ensured the Whites will play in the top flight for a third straight campaign in August.
Raphinha and Jack Harrison’s goals were the all-important finishing touches to a season that won’t live long in the memory of Leeds fans. Although, the final day drama at Brentford will be very hard to forget in a hurry, especially for those housed in the away end.
Richards, who grew up in Chapeltown, spoke of his excitement at seeing them maintain their Premier League status. He said on Sky Sports: “I’ve got to be impartial and I feel sorry for Burnley but, being from Leeds, you want Leeds to do well. It’s an incredible story.”
Read more: Leeds United player ratings as Raphinha and Jack Harrison clinch survival at Brentford
Many had written Leeds off prior to their trip to West London with claims that they wouldn’t be able to get all three points. Richards admitted that he was one of those doubters as he expected Burnley to do enough to avoid the drop.
“I didn’t [see the win coming], I thought they could’ve maybe got a draw,” he added. “I thought Burnley would win at home, Newcastle didn’t have much to play for.
“They [Newcastle] are a good side but I didn’t see it. Jesse Marsch has done a brilliant job coming in, not really having much to work with, big injuries and to keep them up was massive.
“After 16/17 years out of the Premier League, if you go back into the Championship it might be another 16/17 years before you’re back. To stay up, they can build on that going forward now.”
Like Richards, there was a real worry within the Leeds fanbase that relegation was looming but the staff and players did everything they could to avoid that eventuality. The Sergi Canos equaliser and Burnley halving the deficit against Newcastle threatened to throw the Whites back into the bottom three in the second half but Harrison emphatically put paid to any lingering doubt.
Now - as Richards alluded to – it is all about building a squad that is able to avoid being in a similar situation again in a year’s time.
