Leeds' quest for automatic promotion is decided
as the season heads towards a dramatic and unpredictable conclusion.
Who could have thought this?
No fucking way!
We've got to pick ourselves up again now because now we're in a fight.
It's becoming a bit of pressure in my mind that I didn't have until now.
So, I start to freak out.
It's March and Leeds United are second in the league
and well placed for automatic promotion.
Marching on together
In recent weeks, they have recorded two critically important wins
against promotion rivals:
a four-nil demolition of West Bromwich Albion
followed by an away win at Bristol City.
It's a huge turning point now against West Bromwich because now we really realise:
if we play like this every week, then it's gonna happen.
We have to have that feeling for every game
that it's gonna be like a final.
And the closer we come to the end,
it's more a mental game than a football game.
And in my mind, somewhere back here,
it's going to happen, so hopefully I'm right.
Because of injury,
Marcelo Bielsa has only been able to play his two leading strikers,
Pat Bamford and Kemar Roofe, together just twice all season.
Roofe is currently on the road to recovery
after suffering a knee injury three weeks ago.
Very happy so far. He's probably pushing beyond what we would expect
with this kind of injury because it's not an insignificant injury.
I'm just taking it game by game
because I don't know when I'll be back, or how many games I'll get back.
Especially if the team's doing so well, I might not even get back in the team,
so let's take it day by day for me.
Striker Pat Bamford is now fully fit
after missing the majority of the season so far.
He has scored four goals in his last four appearances.
The manager had started introducing us playing together,
Roofie as a 10 and me as a 9.
We were actually quite excited because we understood each other's movements.
The manager could probably see
that there was the beginning of a partnership there.
It's frustrating, being injured.
I think the young me, I'd have probably been like, a bit jealous.
Thinking, "Damn, that should be me there."
I would have gotten frustrated and just taken it out on myself
but you realise you can't achieve anything on your own.
Everything becomes interlinked with the team.
I think that... seeing Roofie do well,
as frustrating as it was for me being injured,
the way I saw it, it's better for me to come back into a team
that's flying and doing well
than to come into a team that's struggling.
It was like being a fan watching it. I was celebrating every goal,
I was trying to help him where I could, and he's done the same to me.
When I scored against West Brom,
you saw all the players from the bench run on.
Sometimes you get players on the bench who would be frustrated or angry
or kind of throw the dummy out if they're not playing,
whereas everyone's just together.
Everyone's just coming together, trying to achieve that goal.
There are only ten games of the season to go.
Next up for Leeds is an away clash at Reading,
a team 17 places below them in the Championship.
Marching on together
We've been here before, haven't we? A game that they're expected to win
against opposition struggling at the wrong end of the table.
It's a trademark high-tempo, high-press start from Leeds,
who attack in relentless waves from the off.
Klich is there, slides home the opener. And Leeds United deservedly in front
with one of their most-improved players of the season. United one, Reading nil.
Hernandez is wanting for it, begging for it.
He turns, he shoots, he strikes and it crosses the line,
and United are two-nil in front against Reading.
Hernandez, he's in imperious form.
Hernandez again.
He's looked up, he's picked his spot and he's found it. That's three-nil!
Pablo Hernandez with two, United with three,
and this is a marvellous performance from Leeds United!
Leeds return to the top of the table. With only nine games to go,
Leeds United are now playing some of their best football all season.
Next up for Leeds are arch-rivals for promotion, Sheffield United.
This is arguably the most important game for the club in over a decade.
Going to football again, Leeds - Sheffield United tomorrow.
- Excited? - Yeah, dead excited.
What time's the kick-off?
Twelve thirty. We'll be setting off really early in the morning.
She's very much like my dad about Leeds United, absolutely loves them.
She's so proud when she talks about them
and so excited and you can hear that in her voice.
I'm that passionate. It's hard to explain how I actually feel about them.
I love my kids and I always say to them that Leeds means more to me than them.
I feel very apprehensive about the Sheffield United game
as it's a crucial game with them being right behind us.
Sheffield United is one of the last crucial games that we play this season.
You Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds? Good boy.
Leeds United back on track. Are you gonna start chanting today, Dexter?
- Yeah. - What are you gonna sing?
- Marching On Together. - Go on, show us it, how does it go?
Dexter doesn't chant much. Felix is the one who chants a lot.
Felix, how does it go? How does Marching On Together go?
Marching on together
Look at Dexter.
We are so proud
We shout it out loud We love you...
Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!
What do you think of Sheffield United, guys?
I reckon when they come to Leeds they'll be smothered by Leeds United.
- What, by the Bielsa swarm? - Yeah.
Yeah, I agree, I agree. I certainly hope so.
They're a good side, but it's exactly the same as West Brom:
early start, get amongst 'em early doors, yeah?
Smother, attack. Yeah? Suffocate.
That's the importance for tomorrow, suffocating Sheffield United.
If we beat Sheffield United tomorrow, and we beat them well,
then I think... it'll be plain sailing the rest of the season.
Name a big club and I'll tell you if I've been to watch 'em.
- Hull. - Hull?
Leeds United are about to play
one of their most important matches in recent years.
Come on, you Whites!
And when we win the championship We'll sing this song all night
Feeling good today. Confident. Very confident. We've got a strong team,
we're playing out of our skins right now. Very confident.
Leeds are going up, going up Leeds are going up!
Arvind Sidhu is making his first-ever visit to Elland Road.
He's brought his wife, Saras, on a 6,500-mile trip
from Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on the first day of their honeymoon.
So, this is a stone that I've surprised my wife with.
I purchased it quite some time ago.
She had no idea that this was happening. So, basically, it's my name and her name.
Me for the love of Leeds, and she as the love of my life.
Arvind discovered Leeds United
whilst studying an English League table with his dad in the late 1980s.
He liked their name and he's stuck with them ever since.
The story of his pilgrimage has been followed on social media
and has gone viral.
- Thank you so much. - Well done, well done. Hi.
- It's our first time here, so we're... - Yeah. Have a great, great time.
Thank you so much. Thank you, guys.
I've never been to the UK, let alone Elland Road.
I've supported the club since I was five so it's been a long time coming.
Watched us go up, watched all the great stories that we've had,
watched the heartache as well. But now it's promise, it's a genuine promise
to where we need to be back, which is in the Premier League,
so I feel it's fate that I'm back at this game. Such a high-riding game.
We will win today. Without any shadow of a doubt we will win today.
After today's game, there is a break in the Championship
for international football matches.
Whoever wins
will keep the automatic promotion spot for the next two weeks at least.
Well, the stakes are high here at Elland Road.
If Sheffield United were to win here,
then they will turn this very much into a three-horse race
as Norwich still lead the way.
Arvind has waited thirty years to join in the famous Leeds anthem
"Marching On Together" inside Elland Road.
Marching on together
We're gonna see you win
We are so proud We'll shout it out loud
We love you Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!
Roberts for Leeds, pushing on again, in towards Bamford.
Shot blocked. Corner ball maybe.
Hernandez, back it comes,
Bamford strikes, it's blocked again and Sheffield United on the rack here.
Leeds United fans sense that this day could be theirs.
Lifted up by Klich, once more Harrison. Oh, what a chance.
That was the moment to break the deadlock. How have United missed?
Chance after chance after chance being spurned again.
United come forward again. Here's Bamford. Oh, and he's blown a great chance,
the half volley past the angle. What a chance to take the lead.
Leeds are on top form.
Sheffield United have been on the ropes for 45 minutes.
Alioski, another drifting cross in for Roberts. Oh, the agony.
Half-time in the Yorkshire derby. It's Leeds nil, Sheffield United nil,
and the Whites have dominated
but have nothing to show for all those chances created again.
The Leeds pressure continues in the second half.
Klich through here. He's got options.
Three inside the penalty area for him to choose from.
He's cut it back, Roberts with the chance! Oh, he's cracked it against the post.
Then, a rare counter-attack from Sheffield United.
Billy Sharp, gets the better of Liam Cooper,
Basham is on his own towards the edge of the area
and shoots low past Casilla.
And somehow Sheffield United against the run of play,
against all the possession, have taken the lead here at Elland Road.
They have to dig deep now, Leeds.
Come on!
Can they do it? They've shown it time and time again.
Can Leeds force it home?
Again, there's more players piling into the penalty area,
including Jansson, and he's knocked it wide.
Leeds are pressing for an equaliser in injury time.
Come on, Leeds.
Keeper Kiko Casilla is well out of his goal
when ex-Leeds striker Billy Sharp counter-attacks.
Where's Casilla come? He's come out a long way and Sharp goes down.
Casilla's in real trouble here.
It's a stonewall straight red card for the Leeds goalkeeper.
Kiko Casilla makes the lonely walk to the tunnel. He sees red.
Leeds United, with their back against the wall now.
Leeds, Leeds are falling apart again
Leeds have dominated possession but the game ends in shattering defeat.
It's finished Leeds United nil, Sheffield United one,
and it's the Blades that leapfrog Leeds into second.
In recent weeks,
Leeds have lost at home to both of their nearest promotion rivals:
Norwich City and Sheffield United.
The defeat is a crushing blow to confidence for fans and players.
We lost playing here at home against the two teams in front of us.
These are important facts.
At home, with our fans.
They did a job on us.
And it's disappointing.
We've got to pick ourselves up again now because now we're in a fight.
It's... It's bad.
It's very bad.
For us, the support of the fans is vital.
But the support from the fans is earned, not demanded.
We have a responsibility to keep this linked to us.
There is now a two-week break in the Championship.
A reflective Andrea Radrizzani
is now heading home to Milan with wife Nedine.
It's not in his control, so for him it's more difficult.
If he does a business deal,
you know, he can sort of lead the process somewhere else,
but this, he...
No one has control over how the boys play,
how the game is going to be, so it's hard.
I'm not happy.
I mean, I love them. I know they are doing their best, but...
I don't know.
I need a whisky.
Director of football, Victor Orta, has been unsettled
by the Sheffield United defeat, too.
I still have the disappointed feeling about the result with Sheffield United
that we didn't deserve to lose.
Normally, I am optimistic in my life, in my way of living.
When you are near, you always feel the pressure.
But I trust. I trust my players, I trust my staff.
We need the fans. We need an amazing atmosphere.
When you support,
the players find this effort for one centimetre or one second.
And one second or one centimetre in football
can make a penalty or one goal or save a goal.
At this moment, the responsibility to try and change the history of a club...
Wow. It's a responsibility and a pressure and an amazing feeling.
Now, what's the most important thing?
To win the fucking league.
We fight together.
You are one of the most experienced players we have
and you always... everyone respects you. You are always professional.
You are my best friends on the team.
You're more like a big brother that I look up to
and I feel safe when you are around the team.
You changed me as a person also, you know.
Pontus is a special guy.
Yeah, I see him like a big brother. He brings a lot of spirit.
I could see at the beginning he was a really good guy.
That's why I tried from the beginning to help him.
Now, I will go all the way with him.
Always next to him in every problem. Against everybody to defend him.
Happy to have him and to play with him.
Thank you.
Serious. Don't think it's a joke. It was serious now.
Oh, it's nice, thank you.
In Milan, Andrea seeks home comforts,
away from the pressures of Leeds' promotion push.
So, this is my home where I grew up.
I come back very often to see mamma and eat good food.
This is my mum.
She's had this house more than 50 years.
She says she's old.
Andrea's mum uses social media
to keep tabs on Leeds' fight to win promotion.
She follows Instagram, Leeds United on Instagram and all the social media.
- Go ahead. - This is when he was little.
She has prepared a few photos for us.
This was a birthday...
The home visits allow an opportunity to remember a happy childhood.
Wow, this was a different phase of life. Teenager.
Look at the body there. Here I was in good shape.
- A Juventus fan. - Look at this with a Juve vintage shirt.
This was even better. By the beach.
My dad was a big AC Milan fan, but I don't know how, I supported Juve.
The international break is over and the Championship gets back underway
at Elland Road tomorrow when Leeds take on Millwall.
Andrea is now back in Leeds, and to try and lift everyone's spirits,
he's organised a friendly between Leeds staff and visiting Italian friends.
Come, to see team two.
So guys, if you really want, I play with you.
So, finally, today I can win.
Are your mates not drinking at the airport?
My mates? No, I don't think so, they are quite professional.
- Are you gonna wear them? - Let me see. These are who?
Bamford, Patrick.
They feel good.
It's nice.
Shall we call Patrick? Or we don't tell him.
He won't know.
Yeah, he won't know.
It's okay. He can afford another pair of shoes. He has a good contract.
- Thank you, Patrick. - Does he know?
You know what? Get me promoted, I get you new ones.
- We're playing over there. - Shit.
Despite the loss to Sheffield United in Leeds' last game,
CEO Angus Kinnear believes promotion is still within their grasp.
If we were to win six, seven, or eight games
I think that would probably be enough.
We know, looking at the fixtures, we've got the squad capable of doing that.
We just need to step up and if the team can play as well as we know they can,
then there's more than enough games to finish in the top two.
We have our striker, Angus Kinnear. How do you feel after two goals today?
Stay focused. It's not about the goals, it's about the team.
It's a one-man team at the moment, so it's mainly about me.
Yes, that's true actually.
I'll be coming to the chairman after the game for a new contract,
based on today's performance.
Okay. Look at the camera.
Only eight games remain. Leeds lie outside the automatic promotion places,
five points behind leaders Norwich City and one behind Sheffield United.
After a two-week break for international fixtures,
Leeds face Millwall,
a team threatened with relegation from the Championship.
It's a sell-out crowd at Elland Road.
But the swaggering confidence witnessed before the last home game
has noticeably dipped.
Talk is now of the play-offs and not automatic promotion.
A bit nervous, a bit nervous, but hopefully we should win.
We need to win. That's the important thing.
All Leeds aren't we All Leeds aren't we
All Leeds aren't we!
Play-off is a Russian roulette, isn't it? Anybody can go in and out.
Huddersfield went up through the play-offs, look at them.
We all love Leeds
So, we're all Leeds.
We all love Leeds We all love Leeds
You hope, but you just don't get your expectations too high.
The Millwall fans have arrived from south-east London.
Historically, this is a powder-keg, high-security fixture.
There's an edge to the atmosphere in Leeds city centre.
It feels like an interminable wait since last game against Sheffield United,
that defeat at Elland Road.
But the international break has finally passed.
And it means that hostilities, and that's the right word for this game,
against Millwall can resume.
It is an ancient rivalry. It's one full of bitterness and hatred, too.
Leeds United simply have to win again to get themselves back on track
in that automatic promotion place.
Victory is vital.
Marching on together
We're gonna see you win
Millwall have us underway here.
And it's gonna be tense, it's gonna be frantic.
It always is between these two.
With only 10 minutes on the clock, a familiar story unfolds.
Millwall, around the side they go looking for the cut-back.
And Thompson arrives and scores.
Thirty-four minutes in and Leeds equalise.
Looking to cut back here, Hernandez arriving late, and he finds the corner.
And Pablo Hernandez strikes when he's needed most.
Pablo Hernandez brings Leeds level
but nothing less than victory is required and expected.
Millwall on the break and they have an overlap, too.
In goes Cooper, ohhh! He's pulled down his man.
No fucking way!
Leeds have conceded a penalty and a chance for Millwall to go in front.
And Marshall puts it away comfortably.
Only 20 minutes of the match remain
and elsewhere Sheffield United are beating Bristol City
and look certain to go further ahead of Leeds
in the race for automatic promotion.
Douglas lifts it up, in goes Ayling with a header.
Two-two, what a vital goal.
And at the very moment Leeds equalise,
crucial goals are scored in Sheffield United's game.
Sheffield United are now losing by three goals to two to Bristol City.
That means if Leeds United were to grab a winner here at Elland Road,
they would be back in the automatic promotion spots.
Roberts now, he has a bit to do here
but there's plenty to aim at if he can squeeze a cross in,
he has done, and in slides Hernandez.
And that's 3-2, another five-goal thriller at Elland Road.
Leeds United surely taking the points here against Millwall.
I don't think they're going to be able to respond.
This is a huge blow to Sheffield United
as Leeds look like they've taken all three points once again late on.
Look what it means. Look at the scenes.
Leeds three, Millwall two.
We always do it the hard way.
That's the choice of being a Leeds fan, isn't it?
They give you a heart attack nearly every match.
Go!
It's just brilliant to get the win and the three points
because I don't care how we do it but we actually played really well today.
So, we deserve that victory
and we've just got another three points closer to going up.
I still won't count my chickens
but I'm just hoping and hoping and praying that we can do this.
Automatic promotion is back in Leeds United's hands.
But it's not all good news.
Leeds have lost another key player for the season,
attacking full back Barry Douglas.
I was just coming back to full fitness, feeling good about myself again.
And then obviously I get injured.
Then I was like, do you know what? Now I've got a different role to play.
I'm speaking to the guys every day
and trying to give as much of what I can bring and what I can offer.
So yes, I'm trying to egg the guys on and keep everyone optimistic.
I think Leeds United need to be back in with the big guns.
It's April. The final month of the regular season.
Leeds have had another wobble,
losing one-nil to Birmingham City
and are out of the top two again.
But there is good news.
Striker Kemar Roofe is now fully fit for the season run-in.
Three days after the Birmingham loss,
Leeds face Preston North End in a must-win game.
Can United turn it around?
Can they put the pressure back on the leaders?
They really need victory here at Preston tonight.
We're gonna see you win
Hernandez, skipping away beautifully, into the path it goes of Bamford.
Onto his left foot. Oh, it's an absolute bullet.
What a strike from Bamford.
Sliding in in front of the United fans, he's put them in front
and richly deserved is that lead.
Patrick Bamford answers his critics with a stunning goal.
We are Leeds We are Leeds, we are Leeds!
Klich lifts it up, looking for Bamford,
and that's the second. That's a superb header.
It's Preston North End nil, Leeds United two.
Patrick Bamford!
A priceless victory.
And an overwhelming sense of relief is palpable after the game.
Four days later, a victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Elland Road
moves Leeds three points clear of Sheffield United
with only four games of the season remaining.
In the Championship, the games over the Easter period,
when teams play twice in four days, often decide who wins promotion
and who is relegated.
Leeds are going up, going up Leeds are going up!
Two wins and Leeds should be back in the Premier League.
Anything less and they face the uncertainty of the play-offs.
Leeds are going up!
To help get the players over the line,
the club is putting together an inspirational video for them,
to watch before the all-important home game against Wigan Athletic.
We've been asked to do a video for our boys
just to wish them all the luck in the world
and just to basically say how proud of them we are.
Hi L, so we just want to say that we love you
and we are super proud of you.
Hi Bailey, I'm so proud of what you've achieved this season.
Hi babe, just a wee message to say good luck for the game
and how good you've done all season.
These are all of them. This the entire Clarke family.
There are no Clarkes left in the phone book.
You've done well so far this season, Jack.
Keep it up, go out there and make it count. We want promotion.
- Say, "Bye." - Bye.
See you.
Liam is the type of person who's just focused.
He wants it more than he ever has any other season, this year.
She's like her dad, isn't she?
- Da-da. - Da-da.
It's Good Friday
and Leeds face a struggling Wigan Athletic at Elland Road.
Wigan are only two points clear of relegation
and have won away only once all season.
Come on, Leeds!
There is an assured, confident buzz around Elland Road.
He wears a magic hat...
But with promotion within Leeds' grasp,
owner Andrea is feeling the pressure.
There is a huge belief.
But at the same time, sometimes I have a little voice that comes to me and says,
"no, we don't make it," and at the moment I'm very confident we'll make it,
so I start to freak out.
It's becoming a bit of pressure in my mind that I didn't have yet until now.
We deserve it. The city deserves it.
The fans expect it. It's been too long since we've been there.
But at the same time, I know we can't decide it
and sometimes destiny is not in our hands.
I try to have faith because we really deserve to go to the Premier League.
Well, it really is quite simple, it's back in Leeds United's hands.
Two games: Wigan at home and Brentford away.
Victory in both and surely Leeds United are returning to the Premier League
under Marcelo Bielsa.
Leeds pile on pressure from the off...
and after a deliberate handball with only 14 minutes on the clock,
Wigan are down to 10 men
and Leeds have a penalty.
So, it's Hernandez with a chance to put Leeds in front from 12 yards out.
And he's missed it!
What an opportunity for Leeds to have gone in front early against Wigan.
Leeds, undeterred, fire forwards again. Ayling, Bamford.
Oh, that's a superb touch onto his right foot.
He smashes it across and through the keeper and Leeds are in front.
Leeds one, Wigan nil,
and that really will calm everybody down inside Elland Road.
Well, they have the one-goal advantage and the one-man advantage against Wigan,
who are threatened with relegation from the Championship.
But they're still pushing for it.
There's a slip from Alioski,
in goes Massey and he's in at the near post and Casilla is beaten.
And the 10 men of Wigan are level.
And utter disbelief around Elland Road.
It's one-one.
At half-time, Wigan manager Paul Cook is incensed by the early sending off.
It's fuckin' embarrassin'! I can't wait to fucking give them it.
How was he sent off? Fucking bollocks, ref!
Wigan have been down to 10 men for nearly 50 minutes of the game
but are more than holding their own against the high-flying home side.
Then... unexpected disaster for Leeds.
Wigan come forward again, it's knocked back across goal
and Massey gets the wrong side of Pontus Jansson.
And Wigan have taken an unlikely lead at Elland Road.
This is unbelievable.
Who could have thought this?
That Wigan would be in front with 10 men at Elland Road?
Wigan hammer it clear.
But is this the game that Leeds United will look back on and know
that this was, ultimately, the moment that they blew promotion?
Leeds have now conceded what could be a critical advantage to Sheffield United
as the season draws to a close.
What we've done up until now, is clearly not good enough.
This is a very serious wound in the worst moment
and can only be healed by promotion.
In Rosario, Argentina
Marcelo Bielsa has a stadium named after him
and is still worshipped by thousands of football fans who watch his every move
and hang on his every word.
Marcelo is always present.
There is a channel here that shows the matches of him at Leeds,
they are televised.
A lot of people watch.
The people are watching Marcelo.
They believe in him.
There is always the name: Bielsa, Bielsa, Bielsa.
Three days later on Easter Monday, Leeds must win
against Brentford to have any chance
of automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Defeat would condemn them to the play-offs.
Leeds, Leeds, Leeds, Leeds!
We hope Sheff United or Norwich slip up somewhere
but we must win here first.
If we don't win today then I think it is gonna be play-offs.
Owner Andrea Radrizzani does his best to lift the loyal away supporters.
Come on, boys!
Leeds United come to Brentford and Griffin Park,
a ground where they have not won for more than half a century.
Defeat, and it is definitely the play-offs.
Marching on together
The atmosphere is tense
and Leeds are struggling to produce their usual high level of performance.
Nil-nil, but Maupay through the middle here for Brentford,
a chance to open the scoring, he stabs it past Casilla.
Oh, what a mountain to climb for Leeds United now.
Those automatic promotion hopes dangling by a thread.
Brentford lead by a goal to nil. Brentford one, Leeds United nil.
Come on, Kemar!
Leeds need two goals at the very least.
But their attacking players are now misfiring. Panic is in the air.
In the second half,
Leeds' fate is sealed.
It looks like the hosts are coming forward again, looking for a second.
Canos has played it in here and he scores, past Casilla.
And that really is the death knell for the automatic promotion hopes.
Leeds United trail Brentford by two goals to nil.
It's all over.
It's Brentford two, Leeds United nil.
Leeds have failed in their quest to finish in the top two of the Championship
and have lost out on automatic promotion.
They must now enter the play-offs
to decide who joins Norwich and Sheffield United in the Premier League next season.
Hello.
Marcelo, good afternoon. How are you, sir? Nice to see you.
Shall I begin?
In the final episode of Take Us Home: Leeds United,
the most incredible of seasons reaches a dramatic conclusion.
Another controversy
that makes Leeds United the talk of the football world again.
And a familiar foe stands between Leeds and promotion to the Premier league.
Let's go again, Leeds! We go again!
Again, Leeds!