PIROE: RON’S MY BIG HERO
Leeds ace models game on Brazil legend
RONALDO will finally make it to the Premier League if Joel Piroe wins promotion with Leeds.
Piroe models himself on the Brazilian superstar and has also learnt from former Liverpool ace Luis Suarez and Karim Benzema.
The Dutch striker has taken aspects from their games and took his tally for Leeds to 14 when he netted in their thumping play-off win over Norwich.
Piroe said: “The Brazilian Ronaldo was one of the best strikers ever and I loved to watch his clips back and learn from them.
“But also the same goes for strikers like Suarez and Benzema. I would say those three inspired me.”
Piroe, 24, cost Leeds an initial £10.5million from Swansea in August and they will have to pay out another £2million if they are promoted at Wembley on May 26.
Leeds will consider that money very well spent and Piroe believes they can finally win the play-offs at the sixth attempt.
“We believe we can go up,” said Piroe, who scored 41 goals in 91 Championship appearances for Swansea.
“We trust each other and believe in each other and have to keep believing. With the team we have, we need to back ourselves and go out there and make it happen.
“I haven’t been to Wembley before. I didn’t know before I went to Swansea that they’d been to the play-off final the year before in 2021 when they lost to Brentford.
“I’m very happy we’re going there now. We know it’s the end if you go to
Wembley in the play-offs, but we had to look at it all one game at a time.
“We’re obviously a little bit relieved we’re going to Wembley, but we also know the job is not done yet.”
Leeds may have produced their best performance of the season in trouncing Norwich 4-0, but Piroe insisted he can play better.
He felt he could have had a hattrick and was annoyed he did not take two second-half chances.
“No, I wouldn’t say it was my best display,” he said. “I’m pleased with what I did, but I did miss two chances in the second half when, at my best, I wouldn’t miss those chances.
“I do think with the squad that we have, you need to prove yourself every time because we have a lot of competition within it. I think we have a lot of talented players and, especially at this time of the season, you really have to perform well.”