I want to bring glory days back to Elland Road
IN-DEMAND SUMMERVILLE EYES SUCCESS WITH LEEDS
HE IS being linked with Liverpool and Chelsea, but Crysencio Summerville insists he wants to star in the Premier League with Leeds.
The Dutchman was crowned Championship player of the season after scoring 21 goals and supplying 10 assists in all competitions to fire Leeds into Sunday’s play-off final at Wembley against Southampton.
The £35million-rated rising star is ignoring the speculation over his future and says he is just focused on winning.
Summerville has heard all about Leeds reaching the 2001 Champions League semi-finals – six months before he was born – and wants to relive those days under manager Daniel Farke.
The 22-year-old attacker, who has two years left on his Elland Road deal, said: “I don’t really know the clubs who are linked with me, I’m just busy with the season.
“It’s a big week with the final at Wembley. We can return to the Premier League, so that’s my focus.
“I know all about Leeds playing in the Champions League and I wasn’t even born then!
“It’s nice to hear all those stories and I want to bring those days back, because we have a lot of potential here. To play in the Champions League would be massive.
“We can do that at Leeds. If you believe, you can achieve everything. The first thing is everyone has to believe on Sunday that we can do it, we will do it. Then if we get promoted to the Premier League, we have to have the same belief again.”
Summerville, who cost Leeds just £1.3m from Feyenoord as an 18-year-old four years ago, insists he can improve.
“I’m far from perfect,” he said. “It’s been a good season, very good. I’m happy and proud of what I’ve done this season, but I feel like there’s always room for improvement. I will be better. I’m just rising.
“I’ve always watched Neymar, Eden Hazard, Ronaldinho, people like this.
“I like the flair in the game, how they take people on. Lately I’ve watched Vinicius Jr as well, he’s really good. I try to do it first in training and once I’ve got a trick under my belt, I try it in matches.”
Summerville is not bothered by Leeds’ miserable play-off record, failing in their five previous attempts.
It did not stop them smashing Norwich 4-0 last Thursday in the semi-final second leg.
Summerville said: “This is us now. We’re a new team with a different manager. I hope we can make our own history.
“We went down last season, it was devastating.
“The fans deserve it, everyone deserves it.”