Joel Piroe has made an honest admission about Leeds United’s promotion hopes while also hitting out at the hectic fixture schedule.
Leeds are on course to earn promotion to the Premier League as Championship winners this season as they sit atop the table with 66 points after 31 games.
With five points separating them from third-placed Burnley, Daniel Farke’s side are in a good position to secure an automatic promotion spot.
However, given football’s unpredictable nature, one cannot be certain about it until it is actually done.
Joel Piroe rues Southampton disaster
Reflecting on last season’s 1-0 loss against Southampton in the promotion playoffs, Piroe admitted that the result was a “disaster” for the West Yorkshire outfit.
As the playoffs also extend the season by a month, the Dutchman is determined to ensure the Whites earn an automatic promotion this time around.
I’m not looking forward to the playoffs”, Piroe told Algemeen Dagblad (8 February).
“We lost the final to Southampton last year. That was a disaster, of course.
“But with the playoffs, the season also lasts a month longer. And an English football year already consists of sixty matches.
“No, we just have to get the job done right away.”
Joel Piroe key to Leeds United promotion hopes
Piroe has been on Leeds’ books since joining them from Swansea City in the summer of 2023.
In his first season at Elland Road, the 25-year-old helped the Whites to the playoffs, bagging 13 goals and three assists in 45 league games.
It is worth noting that the former PSV Eindhoven frontman has already bettered that tally, having scored 13 goals and provided five assists in 31 matches.
Therefore, there is no doubt that Piroe is extremely important to Leeds’ promotion hopes this season.
With Patrick Bamford sidelined with an injury and Mateo Joseph not firing on all cylinders, it is imperative that the striker remains fit between now and the end of the season.
Some fans, though, might be concerned about his ability to lead the line for Farke’s side if they are in the Premier League next season.
It would not be a surprise if they signed a new goalscorer to at least provide competition for Piroe next term.
That, though, is a matter for later as the priority for Farke and Co for the time being is to remain atop the Championship table for the remaining 15 games of the season.
As Piroe said, they will be determined to avoid competing in the playoffs at all costs.
