Leeds United promotion: fans react to return to the Premier League

Leeds United’s return to the Premier League has been compared to Christmas Day by jubilant fans celebrating the club’s promotion.

Thousands of people gathered on Elland Road on Friday when the return to the top flight was confirmed when West Brom lost to Huddersfield Town.

Head coach Marcelo Bielsa, who will have a street named after him, was encouraged to the stadium earlier.

Leeds took the Championship title earlier, as Brentford lost to Stoke.

Countless fans watched the historic moment from home and shared their joy online as the promotion was sealed for the first time in 16 years.

Former BBC player and commentator Noel Whelan, known for his “Get In!” Cries After every time Leeds scored, he paid tribute to the fans.

Whelan, who played as Leeds forward from 1993-95, said: “To all Leeds fans, thank you for every little support you have given our great club through good and bad, everyone deserves this and our great the club is very lucky to have you. “

Leeds captain Liam Cooper said: “With this group of players behind me, I feel unstoppable, that’s how they make me feel.

“I didn’t have a great start with the club, but since Marcelo came in, he changed me as a person and took me to play on a whole new level.”

“Everyone involved has been a huge effort. Andrea came in and he had a plan, and they have allowed us to go and achieve our dreams. This smile will take a little off my face.”

Boxer Josh Warrington was with the players when the news broke.

He said, “I got a call from some people in the club telling me to come down and be a part of the celebrations, so I was able to personally congratulate them, which was an honor.

“I’m still connected, it’s like the feeling after a fight. I don’t sleep and I’m full of adrenaline.”

“This is how I feel this morning, I barely slept a wink last night.”

Adam Pope, BBC Radio Leeds

A year later, a centenary was celebrated and, amid a pandemic, legends lamented. A new one now lives.

Marcelo Bielsa has pulled United out of exile and swept the stables along the way. Cleaner, fitter, smarter, a team has been trained to greatness. He has restored pride and improved around him. With his back against the Leeds-style wall, he did it his way, the right way.

Leeds United is back and soccer is better for that. The nervousness and arrogance of “nobody loves us, we don’t care” will also return.

But remember, it’s all because, for once, the good boy won.

On twitter, The Square Ball fanzine wrote: “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANANJAMANEZA!

Club owner Andrea Radrizzani tweeted: “I am very happy and proud to be the leader of such an amazing club, our fans, our players, Marcelo and all the staff, our management and everyone involved have worked very hard showing a Unconditional love for @LUFC and an endless commitment to achieve our goal and dream. #WEAREBACK. ”

Councilwoman Judith Blake, Leader of the Leeds City Council, said: “Under Marcelo’s expert and meticulous gaze, Leeds has shown without a doubt that they are a truly outstanding team and more than worthy of promotion this season.”

A Leeds street will also be renamed Marcelo Bielsa Way to commemorate the promotion.

The street, which connects Trinity Leeds Mall to Commercial Street, will have a sign installed next week.

A BMW car was seen parked on the ground with a damaged windshield after the celebrations, and fanatic Gareth Cundall mounted a campaign to help pay for the damage.

The Go Fund Me page had raised £ 1,697 of its £ 20,000 goal by noon on Saturday.

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