Last year’s pain is driving Leeds on now – Hernandez
A STEADYING influence on the pitch, talismanic Leeds United midfielder Pablo Hernandez is remaining just as calm off it – despite the club closing in on his ‘dream’ of playing in the Premier League with the Whites.
The classy Spaniard – proving a hugely integral cog in the club’s promotion push just as fellow veteran schemer Gordon Strachan famously did in 1989-90 – provided the catalyst for Leeds’s keynote win over promotion rivals Fulham on Saturday.
Leeds are seeking to back it up with another vital three points against a Luton side fighting for their Championship lives this evening as the hosts chase a fifth successive triumph and clean sheet at Elland Road.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side are in an almost identical position to how they were in the home straight of last season and vanquishing memories of the shattering finale which saw them lose out in the play-offs is serving as a huge internal motivation for Hernandez and his team-mates.
But the 35-year-old is quick to stress that the players are better for that experience, even if it was a painful one and is confident that they will cope with the pressure better in the critical games ahead as Leeds seek to end their 16-year exile from the top-flight..
Hernandez said: “I think it is a little different. We learned a lot from last year. This year, we manage the situation better.
“I always say in the bad moments, you need to take positive things. We took the positive things from last year and we need to put these things in this year to take advantage.
“The group, the players, the staff have managed this very well until now. We are together to achieve the goal and we know it is an unbelievable chance for us.
“I try to be calm. Obviously, when you know you need to win games to achieve your goal, maybe some people put some pressure on themselves.
“Obviously these are important moments, but we need to face the games like the other ones.”
Retaining calm and ensuring that the heart does not rule the head is a challenge nevertheless for Hernandez, given his emotional attachment to the club.
He continued: “I have been very happy from the first day here in Leeds. When I came four years ago, I knew I was coming to a big club, I knew some things about Leeds, like when they played Valencia in the Champions League semi-final.
“When I arrived, I was surprised, it was bigger than I thought. Going to the Premier League with this club, if we achieve this, it is the best trophy for me in my career.
“If I could play in the Premier League with Leeds it is a dream. I try to put in 100 per cent every day to help with this goal.”
Marcelo Bielsa’s side can take another significant step towards that against Luton this evening – when victory would see them– move six points clear of secondplaced West Brom, who visit Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow.
Third-placed Brentford, who are eight points behind Leeds, visit Reading tonight – seeking a third successive win.
Leeds face a Hatters side who upset the form book to triumph at Swansea City on Saturday to move off the bottom of the Championship table and Hernandez acknowledges that the hosts will face a rival desperate for points for their own reasons.
Hernandez, available to play despite managing an ongoing slight hamstring issue, added: “Sometimes for the fans when you see this game, we are at the top and Luton are at the bottom and you might think it is an easy game for us. Every game is hard.
“They need the points, like us. It is a difficult game. We know if we play our football and do not lose our identity and spirit, we have a good chance.”
Last six games: Leeds WWWWLW; Luton
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Referee: J Brooks (Leics).
Last time: Leeds 1 Luton 0, September 1, 2007; League One.