In an amazing 24 hours for the team, Leeds United on Saturday (July 18) followed up their promotion to the Premier League by being crowned champions of the Championship. The result again came without kicking a ball, as Brentford failed to beat Stoke City meaning that mathematically, Leeds’ points haul is unassailable.
The season has delivered a fairy tale ending for Marcelo Bielsa’s side and the club’s fans immediately turned on the celebrations. Partying began in Yorkshire and for those isolating at home, on social media too.
While Leeds will go into Sunday’s (July 19) fixture with Derby County as champions, it proved to be a sad day for Brentford. Manager Thomas Frank shared some of the emotion as his team failed to capitalise on a late-season run that had Brentford fans hoping for the championship title.
“Of course we would have loved to go into the final game with everything in our hands,” the Dane, 46, said.
“That is the roller coaster of football. What happened out there on the pitch is the past. We can only look forward, do everything we can to settle our emotions and be ready to go again Wednesday.”
“I am very proud of them (his players). I think they gave everything out there today. We have been on an unbelievable run and if anybody had said to us before the start of the season that before the last game you would be one point off the top two…
“Also I am 100% sure I am going to be even more proud of them at the end of the season. If it takes one or four games (due to the play-offs) I don’t know.”
Stoke City’s manager, Michael O’Neill said his team was already focused on next season.
“I think it’s always relief when you are in this situation. It’s a relief to get it finally done and to do it and win against a very, very good team is a positive for us as well,” the former Northern Ireland manager said.
“But it’s nothing for us to celebrate – it is just something for us to look at the progress we have made, and we will look to continue that going forward.”
