Leeds United

Our BBC Radio Leeds team - who you'll no doubt be following on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast - are considering their points of hope and worry before the play-off final against Southampton. Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix has offered his take.

Rix's hope

The way this team played from January to Easter. Loads of goals, solid at the back, everyone loving their football, life and Leeds United.

Rix's worry

Whether Daniel Farke can rally the troops yet again. Another game in a season of so many. One more to go when so many of the squad have never played this much before.

Listen to the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet

There are just two sleeps to go until the Championship play-off final, so why not get yourself in the mood with a special addition of Don't Go To Wembley Just Yet.

Listen to BBC Radio Leeds' Jonathan Buchan live as he is joined by special guests at The Old Peacock Pub on Elland Road.

Tune in to BBC Radio Leeds' 'Don't Go To Wembley Just Yet' show from 14:00 BST today!

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Championship play-off final against Southampton at Wembley (15:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Striker Patrick Bamford definitely misses the match because of injury, but defender Sam Byram will hopefully be declared fit after Saturday's training session. The rest of the squad is available bar long-term injured duo Pascal Struijk and Stuart Dallas, who was forced to retire recently.

• On the mood of the squad: "We're pretty focused and concentrated. We know it's a decisive game, but it's important to stay calm and stay balanced. We're highly motivated, exactly like our opponent. It's a 50-50 game."

• On Southampton: "They're one of the best sides in the Championship. They've got experienced players and a classy coach. The club is not nervous. It's difficult to beat them. This was proven in the first two games."

• Farke said he always sensed Saints boss Russell Martin, who played under him at Norwich City, would become a head coach: “He was my captain at Norwich and always looked at things through a manager's eyes."

• On the prospect of taking Leeds to the Premier League: "I signed a contract because I believed the club and community were ready and deserved to be in the Premier League. I want to work at the top level. The Premier League is the best league in the world. I am highly motivated."

• Asked if they will visit Wembley before the game, Farke said they might do early on Sunday but that is still to be decided, adding: "Rituals are always good so we'll stick to our usual processes. It'll be normal preparation, nothing too special."

• Farke said he is glad not to have seen his face splashed all over the Trinity Centre in Leeds: "I’m too old for that. It should be players like Georginio Rutter, Crysencio Summerville, Joel Piroe and Illan Meslier in the spotlight."

Image source, Getty Images

Junior Firpo insists Leeds United did not buckle under the pressure of the Championship and that their players' mindset has never changed during the season.

Speaking to the PA news agency he said: "It was difficult, but for me I think it's more about a lot of players having played a lot of games.

"Players played 50 games - that's a lot. Especially at the end of the season, when you need players as fresh as possible. People were tired with knocks, with little injuries or whatever.

"So I think the most important thing that we did was recover from the physical side, because our mindset did not change - if it's not automatic promotion, we'll go up through the play-offs."

Ahead of Sunday's play-off final against Southampton, the defender who has played 28 Championship games this season, said: "It's not every day you can play in a final. It doesn't matter if it's a play-off final or whatever.

"It's a final. It's 90 minutes. It will be a nervy game, a difficult game I think, but if I have to pick one team in the final, I pick us."

Patrick Bamford has been speaking about how he "flipped out" at Marcelo Bielsa during a training session with Leeds.

Speaking on his BBC Sounds My Mate's A Footballer podcast the striker said: "We were doing a murderball, and one of those sessions under Marcelo he was really pushing me, pushing me, pushing me and eventually I might have flipped out under the exertion of training.

"I just argued back about something - I would generally not do that. Especially under Marcelo and then there might be a discussion afterwards about what I disagreed with or what he wanted to me do.

"Then that's it - it's done. The next day I'd come in and say I was wrong, I agree with what you said or I'm sorry about the way I reacted to you shouting at me, then that's it."

Listen to the full episode here

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's 72+ podcast, former Reading midfielder Jobi McAnuff said of the prospect of playing at Wembley: "Particularly for a Championship final in terms of 80-odd thousand people, Wembley cut in half, your fans on one side of it and theirs on the other - it's just the scale of it.

"We're fortunate enough to go there and watch games and it just takes your breath away. It doesn't matter how many times you have done it or what capacity you are in, you just know you are the one out there who has to go and perform.

"It's all about how quickly you can start and how quick you can settle. Then you can go and play the game rather than letting everything around you distract you, which it can do. We saw over the weekend it happen with Bolton and it can be quite a daunting place at times."

Ex-Bolton defender and current manager of Kidderminster Harriers Phil Brown added: "Even when you have gone into the stadium or the same size of stadium, when you are a captain you are walking along and introducing your team-mates you sometimes forget their names.

"If you're a manager you are stood next to all that heat that comes bursting out with flames and all your thinking is to try to get the first thing you do be a positive thing for your club or for your game or team that day, and if it comes off it can win a game."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

The key facts and figures before the Championship play-off final between Leeds United and Southampton on Sunday (15:00 BST kick-off).

• Southampton were the only team to do the league double over Leeds United this season with the second of those wins coming on the final day at Elland Road (2-1).

• This is the third second tier play-off final between two teams that were relegated in the previous campaign after Leicester City 2-1 Crystal Palace in 1995-96 and West Ham 2-1 Blackpool in 2011-12.

• Southampton will play in their first play-off final with this just their second ever play-off campaign, after a semi-final exit on penalties to Derby County in 2007. The Saints last won promotion to the Premier League in 2011-12 when finishing as Championship runners-up.

• Leeds have lost on their last two outings at Wembley Stadium, most recently in the 2008 League One play-off final to Doncaster Rovers (0-1) - their only previous play-off game at the national stadium. The Whites’ last win at the venue came in the 1992 Community Shield against Liverpool, winning 4-3 with Eric Cantona scoring a hat-trick.

• Including the play-offs, Southampton have averaged the highest share of possession (66%) across England’s top four tiers this season whilst only Manchester City (691 and 24) have recorded more passes and more sequences of 10+ passes per game than the Saints (663 and 22) in 2023-24.

• Leeds United boss Daniel Farke is aiming to become the third manager to win promotion to the Premier League three times after Steve Bruce (4) and Neil Warnock (3), following his two title winning seasons with Norwich City in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

• Leeds and Southampton have met 100 times previously with the Whites holding 48 wins to the Saints’ 30 victories (D22). Of the 19 opponents Leeds have played 100+ times, their win-rate against Southampton is their greatest (48%).

• Leeds have reached a play-off final for the fourth time, failing to win promotion in each of the previous three (1986-87, 2005-06, 2007-08). It is the joint-most play-off finals any team has played in without a win (level with Bristol City, Exeter City, Lincoln City and Shrewsbury Town).

Liverpool have turned their attention to Leeds United winger Crysencio Summerville after opting against moving for Newcastle United's Anthony Gordon. (90 Min), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Adam Pope
BBC Radio Leeds reporter

Our BBC Radio Leeds team - who you'll no doubt be following on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast - are considering their points of hope and worry before the play-off final against Southampton.

Pope's hope

The annihilation of Norwich City in the semi-final and the vibes coming off the players in its aftermath. It was United’s best performance of the season considering the pressure they were under to deliver. Speaking to several of the squad on Monday I could sense a steely and quiet confidence about winning promotion at Wembley and changing the club’s play-off history.

Pope's worry

Southampton’s midfield of Flynn Downes, Will Smallbone and Joe Aribo is powerful and full of running. United have to dominate this area because I feel in the other departments they are already stronger.

Listen to the latest episode of Don't Go To Bed Just Yet

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United forward Joel Piroe says the team has "full belief" in themselves as they head into the Championship play-off final.

The Whites face Southampton at Wembley on Sunday as they look to secure promotion straight back to the Premier League.

Daniel Farke's side will need to do something they have not been able to do so far this season in beating the Saints, having lost home and away during the regular league campaign.

"I am very excited," the 24-year-old told BBC Radio Leeds. "It is honestly a game I would love to play tomorrow if I could. But it is good to have a week to prepare for it but I am really excited for it.

"I feel completely ready for the final. We have full belief in ourselves - I think we can beat anyone and we just have to bring our best."

Piroe, who joined from fellow Championship side Swansea in August, scored in the 4-0 win over Norwich in the semi-final and knows the side will have to produce a similar performance if they are to go back up to the top-flight.

"That is my main goal [to be promoted]. That is what I said from the start. I don't care if I don't reach getting 15 or 20 goals, getting promoted is all that matters," he added.

"The first day I came here we were sitting 16th, so it has been a long journey to get here but I saw the quality we had in the team. We were up for the fight for the top places and I think we have only kept growing.

"It is a final so it is always a game on its own and nothing compared to the league. We just need to bring the intensity we brought to Norwich and stick to our plan."

Listen back to West Yorkshire Sport Daily on BBC Sounds

Jonny Buchan, BBC Radio Leeds
Sports Editor

Our BBC Radio Leeds team - who you'll no doubt be following on the Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast - are considering their points of hope and worry before the play-off final against Southampton.

Buchan's hope

Big-game players. It has been a theme on the podcast this season that we believe the squad has big-game players, hence league doubles over Leicester City and Ipswich Town. There is no bigger game than this.

Buchan's worry

If it doesn’t ‘click’. When Leeds have struggled this season it has been visible from the first 10-20 minutes of the game. If the ball doesn’t stick, if the press isn’t coordinated, if there are gaps in the midfield…. all of them are signs it might not be their afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales defender Joe Rodon will be hoping the Swansea City connection proves key at Wembley this weekend as Leeds United bid for an instant return to the Premier League.

Leeds will be back in the top flight at the first attempt if they beat a Southampton side managed by former Swans boss Russell Martin.

Four former Swansea players are expected to be in United's squad for Sunday's Championship play-off final - Rodon, Dan James, Joel Piroe and Connor Roberts.

Piroe, who swapped the Swansea.com Stadium for Elland Road last summer, scored his 16th goal of the campaign in the decisive 4-0 win over Norwich in the second leg of the play-off semi final.

Wales stars Roberts - who is on loan from Burnley - and James came off the bench in that game, while defender Rodon started alongside another international team-mate, Ethan Ampadu.

It is a strong Welsh connection that could prove pivotal against Martin's Saints side, who are also hoping to bounce straight back to the Premier League.

"It's a massive occasion,” Rodon said on Leeds United TV.

“We are just delighted to give everything, especially something to look forward to for the whole club, for everyone involved."

Rodon was at boyhood club Swansea when they made the Championship play-off semi finals in 2020, before getting a big-money move to Tottenham Hotspur later that year.

Since then he has only made 24 appearances for Spurs, spending time on loan at Rennes in France before signing up for a season-long stay at Leeds.

Sunday's game will be Rodon's 50th appearance for United - and the outcome could determine whether he joins Leeds on a permanent basis.

Either way, there is plenty of speculation he will leave Spurs this summer, having not made an appearance for them since May 2022.

For now, though, he is concentrating on getting Leeds back into the big time.

"We are going to be focused this whole week now and we are going to give everything and hopefully try and get over the line," he said.

Martin, of course, has other ideas. He is 90 minutes from managing in the Premier League for the first time after leaving Swansea last summer, with Wales' David Brooks among his forward options for the Wembley final.

"It would be the biggest achievement of my life outside being a father," he told Sky Sports News.

"The dream is to put this team out on to the biggest stage every week - to show how brave and good they can be. We're one game away from doing that.

"I'm really proud. The responsibility of leading this club is big anyway, and then to do it at Wembley is huge."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton defender Francis Benali has been discussing Sunday's Championship play-off final against Leeds on the Football Daily 72+ podcast:

"When you look at the league positions, third against fourth, you can have no arguments. It's a game I'm so excited for, I'm so pumped.

"I think it will be a very tough game for Southampton because, although we have beaten them home and away in the league I think a game like this is a complete one-off.

"There may be a little bit of a psychological element from winning those two games through the season but this is something unique and the prize we know is a huge one for both teams.

"It's going to be a game anyone would like to sit and watch. I don't expect it to be anything other than a game of high quality, full of excitement. We could be in for a real classic."

Leeds qualified for the play-off final by thrashing Norwich 4-0 at Elland Road while Southampton saw off West Brom at St Mary's.

Over the full season, Saints scored more goals 87 to 81 but also conceded 20 more than their Wembley opponents (63 to 43).

"I think Leeds have real threat about them - they're dangerous," said Benali. "We saw what they did to Norwich and they can blow teams away.

"Saints will have to be at their best to beat them on Sunday.

"That mindset and ability as a player and manager to handle the occasion is going to have a huge impact on the outcome."

"I think Russell Martin has done an outstanding job. There is a real identity to how they play and it's been so entertaining to watch them. That connection he has with the supporters, the players, the staff - there is a real positive down here on the South Coast.

"Hopefully he will be here for many years."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Image source, James Glover

Leeds United fan James Glover, who is originally from the Yorkshire city, will be making the trip to Wembley from Colorado in the US with his son Elliott for the Championship play-off final on Sunday.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, James said of his connections to the club: "Once a Leeds fan, always a Leeds fan. You can never give that up.

"I've tried to watch football, or soccer as they call it, over here. I'm in New Mexico a lot and there is a team down there I try and go watch but it's just not Leeds. It's always Leeds. It has always been Leeds. I think I remember my first game back in the 80s was against Leicester and that was before the family stand was even built and so I always followed Leeds. We always do, we watch every game.

"With all the American connections last year, it was weird because all of a sudden everyone started following Leeds. So even from a commercial aspect all the American connections from last year and now the American owners, it really helps build the brand over here. It is huge, everyone has a team, the Premier League is massive in the sates."

Listen to BBC Radio Leeds' special play-off final preview show on Friday, 24 May from 14:00 BST

Image source, Getty Images

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper believes the Whites must "keep cool heads" before their Championship play-off final against Southampton, as they hope to make an immediate return to the Premier League.

The 32-year-old centre-back insisted that the "focus" has been on the trip to Wembley since the start of this week, after manager Daniel Farke gave the squad "a couple of days off to just reset".

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Cooper said: "It has all been full focus from the start of the week. It is a big week for us - we know how big it is. Obviously, as the week goes on, it is going to build up and it is just about keeping cool heads.

"Whoever delivers on the day usually comes out victorious, so we will be looking to do that."

Cooper has made 284 appearances over a 10-year stint for Leeds, but he does not believe he will need to use his experience to lift the squad to victory.

"They are young and hungry," he added. "They have so much belief in themselves, so I don't think I have to do too much.

"They don't seem to feel pressure, these boys.

"It might be a bit different when they are doing the handshake and they realise what is at stake, but they are so free and they will play freely. It is an amazing group.

"Accumulating 90 points in a season was unbelievable. We know it didn't end as we wanted with automatic promotion, but finishing in the play-offs gives you a second bite of the cherry.

"We have got to approach it like we do any other game. Whoever plays better on the day, takes their chances and makes the least mistakes, will come out victorious.

"Whether I play 90 minutes, 120 minutes, two minutes or I don't get on at all - it is about what is best for the club and I will be doing everything I can to get the boys rallied and up for it.

"It would just be the fairytale ending."

Listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds

Adonis Storr
Fan writer

In the midst of the carnage, chaos and delight of the four-nil thrashing over Norwich in the Championship play-off semi-final second leg, there was one man on the pitch who went almost completely unnoticed – the referee.

Jarred Gillett was Australia's most successful official, winning their referee of the year award a record five times. Gillett has been part of the Select Group 1 referees in England for three years, and mainly officiates Premier League matches.

Had referees of the calibre of Gillett been officiating Leeds games this season, the Peacocks would perhaps not be in the Championship play-off final this Saturday at all – they almost certainly would have already been promoted.

"I have 12 apologising letters for offside goals not given and penalties not given," Daniel Farke said in the post-match news conference after the first leg at Carrow Road. And Farke may have another letter after that first leg as the Whites were denied a clear goal due to an incorrect offside.

Championship referees must learn from Gillett, because this game aside, the standard has been exceptionally poor this season.

Adonis Storr can be found at The Roaring Peacock, external

Patrick Bamford says Leeds' playoff semi-final was the loudest he's heard Elland Road.

Take a listen to the clip below and get more chat on the My Mate's A Footballer podcast.

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Kaiser Chiefs bassist Simon Rix hopes Leeds United manager Daniel Farke can help get the Whites over the line in this season's Championship play-off final.

Leeds reached Wembley after Thursday's 4-0 thumping of Norwich City, but have not won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs in five attempts.

"Any time I have been to see Leeds in a big game or a final, we haven't done anything," said Rix on on the latest episode of BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast.

"With Farke this year, we have done things we don't normally do.

"Maybe Farke is the man to break the hoodoo and get us a win at Wembley.

"We are surely due some nice times at Wembley?"

BBC Radio Leeds sports editor Jonny Buchan appreciates the grandeur of the play-off final, which will be a first for many of Leeds' team, but believes the Whites have regained form at the right time.

"Think of this squad, not many, if any of them will have played at Wembley," he said.

"It's a massive occasion for everybody and for the players.

"They seem to have that little bit of bounce back in them and whoever Leeds face, they will be thinking: 'Oh, that's the Leeds of a little bit earlier in this calendar year. That Leeds that were in their pomp.'"

The Whites will face Southampton at Wembley on 26 May after the Saints beat West Brom 3-1 in their semi-final second leg on Friday.

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds