KEVIN: MY RUN TO FINAL IN ‘06 IS BEST BY FAR
CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY-OFFS, 2ND LEG, 8PM, 0-0 ON AGG
KEVIN BLACKWELL is backing Daniel Farke to end Leeds’ play-off curse – but insists reaching Wembley won’t be as big a feat as when he made the final in 2006.
Blackwell rebuilt Leeds following the trauma of their financial meltdown and relegation in 2004, and they lost to Watford in the 2006 Championship play-off final.
He fancies Farke (with Archie Gray, above) to go all the way with Leeds, starting with tonight’s semi-final second leg against Norwich at Elland Road with the tie goalless.
Blackwell (circled), who has just helped Lechia Gdańsk win promotion back to Poland’s top tier as technical director, said: “People forget how bad those times were and there was a lot of uncertainty.
“The achievement of what we did is far better than anything anyone else did and even now.
“If you look at Leeds now, this team is stronger. The club has kept more of their Premier League players and that didn’t happen with us.
“Apart from the likes of Gary Kelly, everyone left and the lads who were leaving in 2004, they were in Bentleys, Range Rovers, Ferraris, Lamborghinis, all going out the door, while two of the new lads drove into the club car park in Ford Focuses.
“One of them, he’d had an accident the week before and there was a sticking plaster on the wing of his Ford Focus, which then fell off, leaving the wing hanging loose.
“If ever you wanted a metaphor to sum up the club then, that was it.”
Leeds have failed in all five play-off attempts going back to 1987 but Blackwell believes they are on course to return to the Premier League.
He added: “Leeds are in a great position and they can finally overcome this play-off curse.”
■NORWICH boss David Wagner has told his players to frustrate Leeds in tonight’s play-off showdown.
Following a stalemate in the first leg, Wagner believes the Canaries can last the distance at Elland Road.
The German boss said: “I know a draw at home is a good result where you can really put pressure on the opponent, especially away from home with the longer the game goes.
“We are fully in the race, so I have a positive mood.”