Darren Bent has backed Leeds United to hold up their end of the bargain by beating Tottenham on Sunday (28 May), because he feels the visitors don’t want to win the game.
The Whites are two points behind Everton and will need help from results at Goodison Park and the King Power to avoid the drop.
But with Spurs in disarray, without a permanent manager, Bent doesn’t think his former side will want to get three points and potentially land in the Europa Conference League so has gone for a 3-1 home win.
Speaking live on talkSPORT (26 May, 2m) Bent said: “There seems to be a lot of problems around Spurs… a lot of speculation around their best player, their captain… but I think for Leeds, listen, Spurs have lost their last two.
“I think if you’re Leeds, Elland Road, packed stadium, it’s gonna be loud in there. I think they can beat Spurs at Elland Road, I really do.”
Asked by Andy Goldstein if Spurs even want to win the game or to avoid Europa Conference League football he answered: “That’s the million dollar question, because I know football fans, we want to win every game, but do Spurs want a season like Arsenal?
“You want a full season where you can concentrate on domestic football, then try and regroup, get your manager in and work on the games you’ve got…
“For Spurs, I don’t think they’d want it. I think Leeds can win this game, 100%.”
Half the job
There is good reason to believe the Leeds United could win against Ryan Mason’s side on Sunday (28 May), but there has been reason to believe they could do a lot of things this season and all too often they’ve not done so.
If there is to be any chance of a late escape then that is the least they have to do, but Everton or Leicester could still slam the door shut.
The likelihood is that this game is a disappointing final game in the Premier League for at least a year, but if results fall in the Whites’ favour as they did 12 months ago it will be a dramatic afternoon.
The irony here is that Andrea Radrizzani had planned to get Leeds United back into Europe before he moved on, but he appears to be on the brink of departing with the club back in the Championship, so if the opponents on the day that is sealed are in fact looking to avoid qualifying for Europe it would show what a mess this season became.
Until the final whistle mathematically confirms anything there will remain a sliver of hope, with huge change on the horizon either way at Elland Road.
There isn’t much to look back on fondly this season, but a memorable final day escape would be one thing.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay is convinced 49ers Enterprises have their eye on a big-name manager to take over at Elland Road.
