Leeds go NINE clear of relegation zone with 3-1 win over Burnley

16:18Pien Meulensteen:I'll be honest, it's not something I look too much to. Most of my focus has been on making sure that we stay in the Premier League. That was objective number one from the start of the season. Until that's mathematically done, then our job is not done and my job's not done. So it's normal that a by-product of success for your club gets you closer to the national team. so I can just keep scoring goals and putting in performances and the rest takes care of itself.

16:45Jamie Redknapp:Well, massive congratulations tonight. You've taken a huge step forward to Premier League safety, so well done and thank you so much for speaking to us.

16:51Pien Meulensteen:Thanks, guys. Well done, Dabry. Cheers, Tom. Cheers.

16:55Jamie Redknapp:So clearly, really happy about the performance, but you can see that even when we ask him about the England question, he wants to do it for the club first. He wants to make sure Premier League safety is there before he even thinks about what's happening in the summer. Yeah, and I think the mantra at Leeds is side before self as well. It's the last thing you see before you go out of the dressing room. And I think he talks, you know, he summed it up there pretty well. But, you know, I think at the start of the season, again, we spoke to him. I spoke to him during the week. We'd done a podcast with him and he talked about at the start of the season when he come in, you know, he said one week I was in the park and I was pushing my kid on the swing.

17:29And the next thing I'm taking a penalty and a penalty shootout away at Sheffield Wednesday. So I think at the start of the season, he come in and he wasn't really fully fit. And I think, you know, you said, Jamie, 32 games a season. I think a lot of credit must go to the medical staff at the club as well. You know, they've worked tirelessly with him and they use him in the right way because everything's based on loads now, isn't it? How much you train and stuff. And they've been fantastic with him. But what a signing he's been. And to get him for nothing as well is absolutely incredible.

17:57Pien Meulensteen:Because I guess, Stuart Peen, there must have been reservations both ways that I think they might have looked at it and go, right, can we keep him fit? because there's never been any doubt about his ability. You know, unplayable when that ball comes into the box, as good as anyone arriving with headers, good finisher, works the line like Stuart asked him a great question, down the sides, can he do that? Yes. Has he got the finesse of the backhills? Yes. But can he stay fit? And that's why I'm so pleased for him because it's such a great club, Leeds, you know, but you've got to go there fit. And if you're not and you're half-hearted and things aren't going well for you, it could have gone completely the other way.

18:33Pien Meulensteen:But the fact is he's put himself on the line and he showed what a top player he is. So I'm absolutely delighted to see him play. England, who knows?

18:40Jamie Redknapp:Is he making a good case for himself then? He couldn't do any more.

18:43Pien Meulensteen:You know, he couldn't do any more. Of course, he could get to 20 goals and that would be a certainty. But if you looked at the players, you know, that are in the mix, I don't see Ivan Toney. Obviously, he wasn't picked in the last squad. No, he wasn't, no. And then Danny Welbeck's had a brilliant season. He wasn't in the last squad. I'm a big fan of Danny's. But it does feel, to me, almost a straight fight between Dominic Calvert-Lew and Oli Watkins. Dominic Solanke is going to be out now for a while with a hamstring because I don't know what that's going to look like. Callum's obviously scored some goals off the bench but unless he could take them both.

19:17Pien Meulensteen:Who knows? We haven't seen what Thomas Ducal's done in the squad yet. He might go, you know what? If something were to, you know, you've got Harry Kane and we're so obviously set on him being our number nine which he will be but if for whatever reason he gets a problem, you know, those two players they might think, well, I'll take two. You take 26 players. They've both had a really good season. But I would say out of the two, what Dominic's done, considering all the doubts that they must have had about not just himself, but the club, he's had a brilliant season. Even if he doesn't make the England squad, he can be incredibly proud of himself.

19:46Jamie Redknapp:Yeah, absolutely. And especially the way that he has helped this Leeds team this season. It's been such a good season for him as well. Those last couple of games, three more games to go to, he'll be wanting to put in some serious performances then, won't he? Yeah, I think looking at when we look at them players, he certainly offers something different. But I know that obviously I asked him the other day if he had a target or if he sets targets for himself coming into the season. And he said he does. He always wants to try and get the double figures. He's on, what, 12 league goals now. I think his best season, Premier League, was 16 under Ancelotti.

20:19So, you know, hopefully he can finish off the season as strongly as possible. And, you know, you heard him there. He said that he's not really thinking too much about England. It's more just about taking each game as it comes. and if he can get another couple before the end of the season and stay fit, who knows?

20:34Pien Meulensteen:And I think as well, sorry to cut across you, but even set pieces and everything like that, when you've got a player, I mean, he has got one of the best leaps in football. So anything, if we've got long throws or set pieces, there's five minutes to go in the game, you put him on as an extra body. We've seen how the Premier League's gone with moments like that. So that's a real advantage to him. Oli Watkins has had a great season as well. So who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if he took them both because you need goal scorers. It's the hardest position, it's the hardest thing to do on the pitch is to score goals.

21:02Pien Meulensteen:So the more you've got at your disposal, it feels like the better to me.

21:05Jamie Redknapp:Okay, speaking of goals, should we have a look at the first one? Because it didn't take Leeds United very long. Anton Stack on the score sheet eight minutes into the game. This is exactly, Stuart, how you wanted Leeds to start this game. Yeah, we did. We asked for a fast start and you see Anton here, and I know Jimmy's already touched on it, the way he's always looking around him. But the pass from Jakub B all into him and his first touch sets him up. We see here, you see him looking, and then he's pointing where he wants it. He knows he's in a pocket of space. His first touch takes him away from Ward Prowse, and then I think he catches the goalkeeper off guard a little bit because he hits it so early and is so far out on his weak foot as well.

21:39But, you know, a great finish and a great start for Leeds.

21:42Jamie Redknapp:Perfect start, wasn't it? And we know how good he can score from distance.

21:46Pien Meulensteen:Absolutely, but the key to it for me is as he's getting that ball, he's checking his shoulder, and that's obviously one great free kick. This one, beautiful. He gets a whip and dip over the top. This is absolutely amazing. Beats a brilliant goalkeeper there. Can't do anything about that one. And then this is his first one with his left foot. Great first touch and hits that well with his left foot. Keeper hasn't got time to set himself. Very impressive. Great recruitment. Just shows up. Do they use a lot of data at Leeds? Yeah, they've gone that way. It's very heavy data-driven. But I think there's a certain element as well.

22:19There's got to be an eye test as well. You've got to look and see what you're recruiting. Anton, for a big lad, he's really, really good with his feet. He's not just in there to be a big force in midfield. He's really tidy on the ball. He keeps the ball really well. I said before the game that he's not in the team to kind of unlock things away a number 10 would do in there. But when he's doing things like that, he's made me look a little bit silly, hasn't he?

22:45Pien Meulensteen:No, not at all. I think what he does as well, to having that height, it gives you both boxes. He ticks a lot of boxes, what you want from a midfield player now. You know, sometimes if you're necessarily the biggest side in the world, when you've got a set piece, he's a great advantage for you for and against. He's scoring goals, making goals. Really good signing. You know, before he came to the Premier League, I think he had a couple of caps for Germany. He got a cap again. So who knows, he might be an outsider for the World Cup. And he's had a really good season.

23:12Jamie Redknapp:So that was the first goal. Started pretty quickly in the first half. Started very quickly in the second half as well. You said it at half-time, actually, that you wanted them to get another goal, just to feel a little bit more comfortable in this game. And it was Okafor who got it. Yeah, you just see them. It's a sloppy mistake from Burnley. But Calvin Lewin, obviously, he's aware. He pounces on the mistake. And when you play this formation, you depend on your wing-backs giving you the wits and getting you up the pitch, using that running power to get you up there. And we see here, you see Dominic obviously steals it.

23:41And then he's on his own. He's surrounded by Burnley players. And we see Jadon just coming into the picture now. it's a lovely back heel and then Okafor he's pointing where he wants it and Jimmy I know you you spoke about his finish didn't you about how he catches it down into the ground

23:55Pien Meulensteen:yeah I think forwards have this knack they don't always look for the cleanest strike they just want to make sure if you hit it into the ground cover the ball get on top of it you've got a great chance of finishing it and it's a really good piece of play you mentioned it to Dominic he looks up Bogle has he got the quality to just drift it into there he does lovely little lifted ball and you could just see keep the concentrate can you look at the ball keep your eye on it get it into the ground because normally sometimes you get a clean strike it goes into the keeper's hands and he's what's that one that's the girl Gritty that's an old fashioned one an old dancing one yeah that's good Jamie thanks I'm done with the kids don't worry about that

24:30Jamie Redknapp:I didn't even know it but that was a dance

24:31Pien Meulensteen:from a few years ago I've been told

24:34Jamie Redknapp:but listen he is really getting his form now six goals in his last seven games when they need it the most yeah it took him a little while to get going at the beginning of the year he come in obviously from AC Milan and they spent a bit of money on him as well and maybe a bit of pressure on his shoulders to come in and deliver you know he struggled at the start of the season through fitness as well but he's certainly delivering now I mean you've seen the record there he's on a good he's in good form and he's probably the player you look at now when you look at that Leeds team and you get on the ball you're you know he's probably the one in that team that gets you up off your feet and you know he's exciting and he's hit form right at the right time for Leeds

25:41Pien Meulensteen:We'll see you next time. Nobbs and Nikita Paris. Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts. For now, though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast.

26:00Jamie Redknapp:Big celebrations at full time. Daniel Farkas celebrating with the fans after his side took three very important points. One step closer to Premier League safety. Let's hear from him now. He's with Juliet. Daniel, at the end, at full-time, you applauded, I think, every single fan here in Ellen Road. I know the job isn't done yet, but a huge step tonight for Leeds United. Yes, of course. Three points are massive for us. I'm very proud of my boys to live on this crunch time period. Also with the additional load of important cup games, both games we had to play in London. One away win at West Ham, one game at Wembley.

26:40also a few players with some problems but then still to be able to deliver 10 points out of the last four Premier League games in this crunch time period nervy period especially as a promoted side is second to none and I'm just proud of our mentality and the spirit in the dressing room and of course it was a massive step for us tonight.

26:56Jamie Redknapp:Such a togetherness though inside Ellen Road you could see that connection between you and the supporters Yes, hard earned because when I walked in and you know it was a completely different scenario so the club was divided but set on my first day so the most important thing is this club was always at its best when it was really like the name says Leeds United really from the owner from the chairman, from the whole board till every staff member who works here in the stadium so we need a big togetherness together with our supporters, with our fans with our staff, with our players and the players have done everything really in order to represent this shirt in the best possible way over the last three years and I'm pretty proud of them.

27:40Job is not done yet, so we will just celebrate proper when it's mathematically done, but 43 points is a good feeling.

27:46Jamie Redknapp:The first goal, I think, it came from nowhere, but it was such a well-taken goal, so sweet. The second goal, though, the build-up into it, I saw you in your technical area celebrating widely. Yes, it's what we are. We can score more or less out of each of your face. We can score on the counter-attack, on set pieces, sometimes also with a hard-fought goal, sometimes with individual quality, first goal, unturned fantastic strike, and sometimes with a fantastic team goal. So, of course, as a promoted side, it's not always like to dominate games like we would like to do, like we have done in the championship, with 100 points and nearly 100 goals and fantastic brand of football, but this DNA is still there, and I always like when we score team goals, like also in several games, and in the recent weeks and months, we've scored many, many goals, especially keeping in mind that we are still a promoted side.

28:37So, yeah, we are on the way to establish us on the top level and it's definitely a good feeling.

28:44Jamie Redknapp:Such a huge step as well. You talked about that good feeling and talking to your captain as well. The mood around the place, you can just tell. The players are in a good mood, in good form, second half of the season. Yes, our fitness level is remarkable, but this comes from hard work each other day. So be relentless, be stubborn, stay on it. be never too high after win, also not too down after loss and keep working. So the mentality and the work ethic of this group is really very, very special. And I've worked in many dressing rooms, but this is really something second to none. And this is more or less like also the secret behind it, because we can't blow away an opponent just by individual quality as a promoted side.

29:25No chance. So we always have to be technically spot on. We need good game plans. We need to go always over the line, top fitness level, top spirit, and all this comes together, and this allows us to play a really, really decent season.

29:37Jamie Redknapp:I know we can all get carried away. We saw the supporters. We saw how the players reacted. We saw how you reacted as well, and even though the job isn't quite done yet, can you allow yourself maybe a little celebration, or do you put that on hold until you're mathematically done? Yes, we will just celebrate when it's really mathematically done. It's crazy which type of teams are involved in the relegation battle. Nottingham have chances to win something in Europe. Tottenham normally should fight for the Champions League. So for that we will just celebrate this. But it's also not an important question for me.

30:09We are on 43 points and my intention is not to stop winning points right now. So I'm greedy with this, boys, also to win as many points as possible. For that it's not even a question for me if 43 is enough or not. So I don't think about it. we will be greedy and hungry also to win more. We allow ourselves a nice week and also to recharge as much needed after difficult weeks and several players with some injury problems but from next week on we keep going and keep hopefully winning points.

30:40Jamie Redknapp:You let the fans enjoy the bank holiday weekend instead, yeah? Definitely, they are allowed to celebrate a bit more and also for us, yes. Daniel, well done. Brilliant stuff, thank you. Thank you. It must actually be quite frustrating that they can't fully celebrate. Even the fact that they're on 43 points, they're not mathematically safe. But they're pretty much there, aren't they? But you can understand why he's saying we can't get too ahead of ourselves.

31:05Pien Meulensteen:Yeah, well, if they're not safe, Newcastle won't save them because they've got a point less. So I think that they should be able to definitely enjoy it. But they want to try and get as close to that 59 points as they can. But that year, they had a man that played every single game and was absolutely on fire. I remember it well. You had a great year. Yeah, that was a good year for us. Obviously, under Marcelo, we played in a unique kind of way that nobody had seen before. And obviously the next season we struggle a bit and just stay up. But it's important the club build on where they are now. It's important that they, I'm sure the recruitment plans have already started.

31:38That for me is key, the recruitment side of things. And the fitness levels, Daniel touched on it there. I think pre-season you build your foundation for what lies ahead during the season. And I think pre-season, the fitness levels they've showed throughout the whole season, I think they're top five in all the running stats. So they deserve massive credit for that. But it's important now, the club, you've seen there, we finished ninth and then it was 17th. We didn't, the club sort of stood still a little bit. They didn't build on what we had then. So it's important they don't make the same mistake.

32:10And I'm pretty sure with the guys in charge now, they won't make that mistake.

32:13Jamie Redknapp:OK, well, let's turn our attention to their opponents, Burnley, then. Continuing their winless run tonight, but they had the interim head coach, Mike Jackson, in charge this time. So let's hear from him. He's with Juliet. Mike, how do you reflect on that? Was it a disappointing first half, but actually more character shown in the second and more fight in that performance?

32:35Pien Meulensteen:Yeah, I would say that definitely. I think you're spot on. I just think I knew this game could go one or two ways with what's happened in the last 24 hours. and the shock of it to the group. So I had a feeling it could go a little bit like that. But I think you're right. I think the first half, first 20 minutes, 25 minutes, we looked a little bit shell-shocked in a way. And we grew into the game a little bit more. And then we started the second half, I thought, pretty well. And then you can't make those errors. And we make an error. Then we make another error for a goal. It comes quickly. and then you're always up against it.

33:13Pien Meulensteen:We showed little bits after them, but the biggest thing for me that I've just said to the guys there is, and it's probably been a bit all season, we cannot wait to go one or two down to think, oh right, okay, now we'll start. And that's a mentality thing, it's a confidence thing and it's something we need to keep working on. I just said to the boys in there now, Now it's, for us, the goal now is to win a game from now to the end of the season. It's not my job here now to beat them up. You know, they've been through enough at this moment in time, but we have to learn quickly about things like that.

33:56Jamie Redknapp:Yeah, I think you can tell the impact has affected them of what's happened in the last nine days and also with Scott going as well and not looking for excuses, but it's such a togetherness within those group of players. It's such a spirit within those group of players. So how do you go about winning a game now? And you talk about that confidence. How do you get that back?

34:18Pien Meulensteen:It's difficult in a way, but the only way we can do it, as I said before, the game is we have to keep working at these sort of things. We have to find a way of giving the lads that little bit more confidence. I don't want this team just to be kicking the ball from one end to the other. I think they're better players than that. But you need to have that courage to be able to deal with that and get on the ball and be brave. And that's up for us now to get that into the players.

34:52Jamie Redknapp:So the aim there, says Mike Jackson, to get a win in those final three games, only one win in the last 26 Premier League games. Is this a team lacking of confidence? And how do you get a good finish when you're already relegated?

35:06Pien Meulensteen:I don't think they do now. I think if there's any team you want to play right now, it's Burnley. It's as simple as that. And Arsenal have got to play them at home. If you're looking at playing Burnley right now, you're thinking your goal difference, that could be a massive point in this season for them because they are lacking confidence. They got a goal behind. You can see people stop running. They stop trying. You can't have that. It's not acceptable. So they've already, to a certain extent, just thinking about next season. Now, recruitment has to change. They have to get better players in next year and make sure they can bounce back up.

35:33Pien Meulensteen:Scott Parker did a great job of doing that a couple of years ago. Can they do it again? that's the big question but a lot of the players that they've signed or had they just haven't really worked out and they've not been good enough and I can see I can get Mike's frustration there that's a very difficult position for him to be in but they are The question is

35:49Jamie Redknapp:how do you break a cycle like this isn't it?

35:50Pien Meulensteen:That's the yo-yo that's the word they're the ultimate yo-yo club but if you're not going to go really big in a recruitment it'll be like maybe what Sunderland have done what other teams have done and they've really impacted with great recruitment and spent money and it doesn't always work I remember Fulham many years ago spending over 100 million still didn't work. They went down. But normally what you spend works. You know, if you looked at what Sunderland have done, they spent the most money, hence why they're in a great position now. Leeds as well spent good money, but they've bought really good players.

36:21Pien Meulensteen:You can't just throw it, you know, you can't throw out the war and hope it's going to be all right. You've got to recruit really well with the right data, with the right players that are going to make an impact, be it pace, be it height, be it strength, whatever you feel you need. Do you get something like a Granit Xhaka into your team? They're hard to find. They're like unicorns, these guys, but someone that can control the game. And that's why I look at Burnley. I can't really figure out what sort of a team they are. Are they an attacking, expansive team? Are they a counter-attacking team? Really, this season has shown us they're not really anything.

36:49Pien Meulensteen:They haven't got the recruitment right that hasn't helped Scott to try to be equipped. It's almost like they've accepted it. I think they signed one player in January. Did they have a real go at it? No. Hence why they're going down.

36:59Jamie Redknapp:So now the search goes on for a new manager. There are already names being thrown around. Steven Gerrard is at the moment the favourite. Who do you see would be sort of a good fit for Burnley, do you think, Stuart? Well, the one automatically it jumps off the page is obviously Craig Bellamy. He's been there. He was there under Finson Company. You know, he's got a good thing going at Wales. So whether it interests him or not, I don't know. Steven Gerrard, obviously, probably looking to get back into the game. It's, I don't know. The bookies must know something. He's four to seven favourites. So, yeah, there's certainly managers there that are more than capable of going in.

37:36But it'll depend on... Sean Dyche going back. Sean Dyche, yeah. 14-1.

37:39Pien Meulensteen:He's not looked so good back that way. Yeah, there's certainly managers there that can. But it'll depend on, you know, what the club's doing. What's their ambition? Are they going to have money to spend? What the recruitment's like? There's so many factors to take into it. So, they've got a decision to make. Yeah, I don't know. It just hasn't been good enough for them this season. And it's shown. They just haven't been good enough all over the park.

38:02Jamie Redknapp:Okay, Stuart, Jamie, thank you very much for your company tonight. So, Friday Night Football done and dusted, but there is so much more football to look forward to. A big weekend starting Saturday Night Football. Arsenal looking to extend the gap at the top of the table tomorrow against Fulham. Kick-off for that one is at half past five. Then Super Sunday, Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Manchester United against Liverpool. That one's a slightly earlier kick-off at 3.30. Monday night football. The focus is Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Everton against Manchester City. Well, it was a massive night in the end then for Leeds United, who have gone nine points clear of the relegation zone with a huge victory over Burnley.

38:50Pien Meulensteen:Thanks for listening to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Don't forget to hit follow so you don't miss an episode.