Jack Harrison says Leeds United are aiming to do better than Sheffield United next season.
Leeds will be joining the Blades in the Premier League in 2020/21. Their 16-year stay outside of the top flight ended when they won the Championship title.
They missed out on promotion the previous year after being beaten to second place by Chris Wilder’s side. They then had to watch on as their Yorkshire rivals finished ninth in their first top tier campaign since 2006/07.
Harrison will be playing for the Whites again next term, with Leeds Live confirming the winger will rejoin on loan from Manchester City.
“You look at how Sheffield United have gone up. They’re an organised team, their tactics are detailed as well, like Marcelo (Bielsa, Leeds head coach),” the 23-year-old told ESPN.
“They’ve done extremely well this last year. We’re hoping we can do the same, if not better than Sheffield United.
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“I think that would be a great year for us.”
A dig or praise from Jack Harrison?
While there is some rivalry between the fans of the two clubs, there is certainly a mutual respect between Wilder and Bielsa.
The Argentine is credited as having a big influence on big name coaches, such as Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone.
Yet when he arrived in English football last season, it was Wilder who impressed Bielsa the most. The 65-year-old said he was taking note of the Blades’ tactics – with the innovative overlapping centre-backs being the most famous example of that.
In fact, it was on show at Elland Road when Wilder’s men won 1-0 as Chris Basham broke forward from defence to score the only goal.
That said, missing out on being promoted to the Blades would have been a bitter pill to swallow. As would seeing them go on to do so well at their expense.
Finishing above them, as Harrison targets, would be extra sweet as a result.