Norwich City manager David Wagner has been previewing his side’s semi-final against Leeds United.
The two teams are set to kick off this season’s Championship play-offs at midday on Sunday with Southampton and West Bromwich Albion set to follow shortly after.
OPTA’s Championship supercomputer has Leeds as the favourites heading into the play-offs but after missing out on top two, Martin O’Neill says Daniel Farke has a big job on his hands getting his players ready.
Leeds had been in an excellent position to secure automatic promotion a matter of weeks ago but just eight points from their remaining eight matches saw them miss out.
The Whites will have to make Championship history if they are to be promoted now, as no side has ever gone onto win the play-offs after losing four of their last six matches.
Wagner makes ‘big trouble’ claim about Leeds and Southampton
Though Leeds fans are not overly confident ahead of the weekend, it is them and Southampton who are many pundits’ tip.
Both Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have tipped the latter to get the job done, while Micah Richards and Troy Deeney both think it will be Leeds who go up.
On paper, and on league finishes, Leeds and the Saints are undoubtedly the strongest two teams in the top six, with plenty of players still remaining from last season in the Premier League.
And speaking in an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Canaries boss Wagner has moved to pile the pressure on both clubs by suggesting there will be ‘trouble’ at whichever side if they don’t go up.
He said: “One of Leeds or Southampton will fail to win promotion and that is something that I think will cause them a lot of trouble. Leeds are a big club with big players, big money and big pressure.
“When you consider the financial power of the other clubs in the play-offs, and the points they collected, I think it’s fair to say they are the favourites.”
Leeds need to forget potential off-field implications
If a club has to play a second season of Championship football after relegation, parachute payments are then reduced from 55 per cent from 45 per cent.
With £190 million of unpaid transfer instalments also hanging over Leeds, key sales would have to be made if they fail and 49ers Enterprises have acknowledged this.
However, those sort of off-field issues are something the players have no control of and must therefore forget about.
Leeds have been handed the favourites tag for a reason and if they perform to the level they can, Farke’s side have a great chance of going all the way.