Liam Cooper shares Leeds United verdict in Championship after transfer news

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has revealed what he believes the club will need to do to gain promotion from the Championship this season, in an interview with LUTV.

Cooper spoke on the eve of Leeds’ season opener against Cardiff City [6 August], claiming that the mix of Championship experience and youth in their squad could be vital this season, while consistency and standards must be upheld throughout the squad.

These comments have come shortly after it was reported by talkSPORT [3 August] that Cooper is considering a move away from Elland Road amid interest from Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadsiah.

While speaking to LUTV ahead of the start of the season, Cooper shared: “I think the good thing about this group, there’s lads in there who have experienced the Championship and some players who have not so we’re always there to be leaned on.

“I think everybody in this training ground and at the club knows how difficult it is to get out of the league. We can’t think too far ahead. You know if you get too carried away in this league it has an appetite of biting you on the backside and slinging up a crazy result.

“The consistency has got to be there. The standards have got to be there all throughout the season and you’ve got to take each game as it comes. Obviously, we know what this club expects and the expectation from outside.”

The captain then spoke about the role of having a good squad at this level: “It takes a team effort from the manager and his staff to the players to the lads who are on the bench and to the lads who aren’t making squads as well. They are all as vitally important as each other and we’ve got to buy into that.”

Depth and understanding are crucial

Leeds cannot afford to go into the new season assuming they will be able to win games just because they have a talented squad. Understanding that the Championship will be difficult every single week, regardless of the opponent, and that a pact fixture schedule will need everybody to perform will be key.

As Cooper revealed, standards will have to be high throughout the season, as any lapse in concentration could lead to a slip that will be difficult to recover from.

The Championship is arguably a higher quality league this season than it has ever been, with over half the clubs in the division going into the season hopeful of reaching the playoffs, and Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson revealed [Leeds Live, 1 August] there will be a target on Leeds’ back.

Cooper knows just how hard the Championship is to escape, having failed to do so at the first time of asking under Marcelo Bielsa before they eventually managed it in the former boss’ second season