NafisaLeeds United supporters have never been short of ambition.
Even during the club’s difficult years outside the Premier League, there has always been a belief around Elland Road that Leeds belong among English football’s biggest clubs.
Their return to the top flight last season only strengthened that confidence.
Daniel Farke’s side surprised plenty of people by securing their Premier League status with games to spare, while producing several results that suggested they were capable of competing at the highest level.
They went unbeaten against Chelsea and Liverpool, drew with Manchester United at Elland Road and then produced one of the biggest results of the campaign by beating the Red Devils at Old Trafford.
So naturally, expectations have started to rise.
There is already talk among some Leeds supporters about whether the Whites could push towards the European places this season.
But after Wednesday night’s meeting with Manchester United in Dublin, one Red Devils star appeared to have a very different view of Leeds’ current standing.
And his comments have sparked a reaction online.
Man Utd star delivers brutal verdict on Leeds United:
The two sides met in Dublin as part of their preparations for the new campaign, with Leeds looking to build momentum ahead of their second consecutive Premier League season.
The match itself ended 1-1 after 90 minutes before Manchester United prevailed in the penalty shootout.
However, it was what followed that attracted plenty of attention.
Former Manchester United star John O’Shea was asked about the growing belief that Leeds could potentially challenge for European football this season.
Rather than encouraging the optimism, O’Shea poured cold water all over it.
“It’s unrealistic for Leeds to get into Europe”, O’Shea said on ITV.
“Look, their fans won’t be thinking that now they have consolidated in the Premier League.
“They will think ‘we have consolidated now, let’s go get European football’, but that’s unrealistic.
“Those fans are ferocious at Elland Road, so they are always going to put the pressure on to go to that next level.”
Those comments may sound like simple football analysis, but some Leeds supporters have interpreted them very differently.
The suggestion that Leeds should merely concentrate on consolidating their Premier League position rather than thinking about Europe has been viewed by some as an indication that the Whites are still being regarded as a club beneath the established Premier League sides.
In other words, Leeds should know their place.
And that is precisely the sort of message that tends to rile up supporters at Elland Road.
Leeds United have already proved people wrong:
There is, of course, an argument behind O’Shea’s comments.
Leeds have only just returned to the Premier League and are preparing for their second season back in the division.
Survival remains the priority.
But there is also a case that the Whites have already demonstrated they should not be underestimated.
Their performances last season were not those of a team simply hanging on.
Farke gradually transformed Leeds into one of the more difficult sides to beat, particularly during the second half of the campaign.
They collected impressive results against established Premier League opposition and ultimately finished the season with their top-flight status secured comfortably.
The victory at Old Trafford was particularly significant.
After waiting 45 years for a league win at Manchester United’s home ground, Leeds finally ended that wait.
That result alone demonstrated that the gap between Leeds and some of the Premier League’s bigger names is not necessarily as enormous as some believe.
And the club’s summer transfer business has only increased the optimism.
Leeds are building for something bigger
The Whites have not behaved like a club simply preparing to fight relegation.
Harry Wilson arrived on a free transfer, Tarik Muharemovic was brought in from Sassuolo and James Trafford joined from Manchester City in a club-record deal worth up to £45million.
Farke has also made it clear that further additions are expected before the transfer window closes.
That recruitment suggests Leeds are attempting to build a squad capable of competing more comfortably in the Premier League rather than simply surviving.
That does not mean European football should be demanded.
It would be foolish to make qualification for Europe a minimum requirement when Leeds are still establishing themselves at this level.
But there is a significant difference between expecting Europe and believing it is possible.
If Leeds can reproduce their best performances from last season, strengthen further and take advantage when some of the established clubs inevitably drop points, there is no reason they cannot at least challenge for a top-half finish.
And if everything falls into place, the European places could eventually become a realistic target.
For now, though, O’Shea’s comments have certainly added another layer to what promises to be an intriguing season for Leeds.
The Whites may still have something to prove in the Premier League.
But given their history, their fanbase and the direction of the club under the 49ers, telling Leeds supporters to simply accept consolidation may be the quickest way to get them fired up.
And if Farke’s men prove the doubters wrong once again, those comments could come back to haunt their author.
Nafisa
