Leeds United have five games left to maintain their Premier League status after almost two full seasons of toil. Photo: Michael Reagan/Getty Images
«Seventeen years without the Premier League without me,» Victor Horta snapped as he snapped back.
It was just before Leeds United's crucial final for survival in the Premier League last season. The football director was in the parking lot posing for a selfie with a fan when he heard chants at himself and the board and a red mist descended.
Pointing angrily at his detractors, he was led away before watching the team he helped build secure the win that lifted them out of the relegation zone and sent Burnley on the losing side. Horta didn't quite get his sums right as Leeds were out of the Premier League for 16 years, but his argument was clear.
The fanbase may not be on friendly terms with the board, but Horta can point to seasons when they struggled in the championship or even when they were in league one, back then their away trips in April were to Yeovil , Carlisle and Gillingham.
Leeds were four points better at this stage last season when they needed a final day win over Brentford to stay awake. Javi Gracia has only been in charge for two months but was asked ahead of Sunday's match against relegation rivals Bournemouth if he feared a sacking, such is their predicament and a string of matches in which they have scored five and six goals at home. .
A fit Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, followed by Manchester City, Newcastle, West Ham and Tottenham, is a frightening end to a campaign that suggests that she can go back to the wires.
At stake for owner Andrea Radrizzani is a smooth takeover of the club by 49ers Enterprises, who have the option of gaining full control if they remain in the Premier League. As a championship club, there could still be a takeover at a lower price, but some sources believe Radrizzani doesn't rule out staying at the club and rebuilding for another boost.
The downvote will raise the question of how long they can stay there this time. After three seasons back in big time, will it be another 16 — or 17, as Horta snapped — years in the EFL?
To make up for the lack of Premier League broadcast revenue, they at least have assets to sell in the summer if the worst happens. Illan Mellier, despite his recent form, is highly regarded by European scouts. Patrick Bamford, Tyler Adams, Brenden Aaronsohn and Willy Gnonto will return over £100m together.
There is confidence that the club will deal with relegation, given that significant wage cuts are stipulated in the players' contracts, and any release clauses have a market value. They will have parachute payouts and commercial deals, meaning this should not be the doomsday scenario that some clubs face when they lose top division status.
They also have young players brought in by head of new talent Craig Dean to compete for first team spots. The likes of Sonny Perkins have garnered attention, while Joe Gelhardt, Charlie Cresswell and Cody Drame are currently on loan.
Of course, this is not the end. Leeds enter the weekend two places above the relegation zone and their fate is in their own hands. They looked like they could win against Leicester City midweek and should have if Bamford hadn't missed from close range at the end. Asked if Bamford needs support this week, Gracia said: «It's important to be strong in spirit this part of the season.»
«I'm worried about the situation in the team,» he added. «When I came in, we were in the worst position, we were able to score 11 points in 10 games and of course we want more, but we are focused on giving our best in these five games.»
Luis Sinisterra was their scorer against Leicester, but Gracia took a devastating blow, losing the striker for the remainder of the campaign due to an ankle ligament injury. Gracia is also not comforted by the fact that his team is traditionally considered «bigger» than some of their opponents in relegation from the bottom of the table.
“Football is not only about money, in football you can compete well if you are well organized and stick to the values that I think we have, or in this case Bournemouth, that He speaks very well of them.» He said. «When you just see the budgets, some teams feel like they're better off not competing.»
The next five games will test his theory as he faces more difficult challenges.
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