Bielsa will have Leeds ready to take Premier League by storm as Harrison signs up for more
JACK HARRISON has confirmed he will be back at Leeds United next season, where the Whites will be aiming for a Premier League campaign like the one Sheffield United have just had.
There seemed little doubt winger Harrison would be back at Elland Road, where he has spent two season-long loans from Manchester City. The clubs are working on the details of what is likely to be a third loan with an option to buy at the end of it.
The 23-year-old is excited about what the new campaign will bring, saying “anything is possible” under coach Marcelo Bielsa. With that in mind, Leeds are not simply looking to survive in the Premier League, but to prosper as the newly-promoted Blades did in 2019-20.
“With Marcelo I think anything is possible,” said Harrison. “We have a team that is dedicated and motivated and under the leadership of Marcelo we’re more than capable of staying up.
“You look how Sheffield United have gone up and they’re an organised team whose tactics are detailed as well, just like Marcelo’s. They’ve done extremely well this last season so we’re hoping we can do the same if not better than Sheffield
United. That would be a great year for us next year.”
Harrison started every Championship game but one last season, coming off the bench at Derby County’s Pride Park when the title was already won.
The financial gulf between the Premier League and Championship has become so great that increasingly just bridging it has been judged a success. The last two seasons have given hope that more is possible for teams with a clear method, however.
In 2018-19, Wolverhampton Wanderers qualified for the Europa League – admittedly with a much bigger than normal budget – and last season the Blades fell just short of doing likewise, finishing ninth.
The coronavirus pandemic has meant a short turnaround between the seasons, and Leeds are back in pre-season training next week, having only finished the last campaign on July 22. The stretched-out 2019-20 will also mean a condensed 202021, which Harrison thinks could favour his club.
“I’ll be there again next season so it’s exciting to go back and do it all again in a few weeks,” he said.
“I think the Premier League are going to reduce the number of weeks next season to 36 so it’s going to be similar to the Championship with the amount of games per week. Without a doubt under Marcelo Bielsa we will be more than prepared for anything.”
Bielsa’s return for next season is also yet to be confirmed with his contract up, but there have been no indications that either side are unduly concerned this will happen.
Like most, if not all of his team-mates, Harrison speaks glowingly about the impact the Argentinian has had on his development.
“As a young player I’m always looking to learn and there’s no one better to learn from than him,” he said.
“The amount of detail he thinks about the game, if you’re a smart player you learn to take these things on board and take in as much as you can. That’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do these last two years.”