LONDON (UK) – Leeds United CEO Angus Kinnear said that they have only reached ‘base camp’ after gaining promotion to the Premier League. The aim is to return to the Champions League in the coming seasons, he added.
Following the rout of second-placed West Bromwich Albion at Huddersfield Town, Leeds were promoted to the Premier League on Friday. It was confirmed with Brentford’s defeat by Stoke City on Saturday.
From 1998 to 2003, Leeds played European football for five consecutive seasons reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2001. Appointed in 2017, Kinnear holds the view that the club must focus on hitting those heights once again.
“Whilst we’re celebrating, whilst we’re all very excited, we’ve got back to where we belong. This really is base camp for Leeds,” Kinnear said.
“Now it’s going to be really about building on that and making sure that over the next few years we start to compete at the level Leeds should be competing in, which ultimately is the top six.
“Leeds should have a Premier League team. Candidly, Leeds should have a Champions League team and that’s the vision.”
Leeds, who were three-times English champions, got relegated from the Premier League in 2004 and grappled to get promoted until Marcelo Bielsa arrived in 2018.
Though his contract is due to expire at the end of the season, Kinnear believes the former Argentina coach would extend his stay.
“He has a review, he knows the direction he wants to take the club in,” the Leeds chief said. “The challenge with Marcelo is his intentions are always a bit of a mystery…think he’s fallen in love with the club. I think he’s committed to it.”
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field