Leeds United have already been given a big warning about what awaits them in the Premier League by Fulham manager Marco Silva this week.
Make no mistake, the 49ers are going to be delighted, but incredibly cautious about getting ahead of themselves now that promotion is secured back to the Premier League.
Six sides have been promoted back to the first tier in the last two seasons, and all six have been instantly relegated, with Ipswich’s confirmation due this weekend most likely.
Fulham manager Marco Silva sends warning to Leeds United following their promotion
The reason for the Premier League now being a much more daunting prospect to those in Leeds’ position is that the 17 clubs that have stayed in the division for the past two seasons (soon to be a third in 25/26) have much stronger financial positions.
Three years of nonstop Premier League revenue means sides like Leeds cannot compete on the same level of spending, and it makes for an uphill battle in trying to stay up as a result.
One of the most recent managers to have stayed up at the first time of asking is Fulham boss Marco Silva, part of a the trio of sides in 22/23 that ensured survival as Leeds perished.
He believes that what has followed since makes it incredibly tough for Leeds in particular to stay up next season, even with their quality and stature as a club.
“The gap is getting bigger definitely,” Silva told Sky Sports. “Of course, the biggest clubs in the Championship, they have great quality, some of them with a great history behind them and great fanbase.
“One of them that is already promoted, you know who I’m talking about – Leeds, great fanbase they have and all that stuff and their history as a football club too.
“But the gap is getting bigger, the last two seasons are a good example of it, of course what’s happened, three seasons ago with us and the other two clubs that were promoted (Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest), it’s not something that happens often the three still playing in the Premier League and in the top half of the table.
“It shows that it’s very difficult to achieve it and shows it’s getting more complicated.”
Marco Silva is right about Leeds United’s survival struggle next season
It’s so well documented now that the Premier League’s quality is becoming nearly insurmountable to Championship clubs unless you strike gold with a coach and recruitment.
For Leeds, it won’t be impossible to stay up, but you’re going to need mammoth tactical displays from Daniel Farke – or whoever might replace him if that’s the case – and superb recruitment across the board.
Silva’s Fulham managed it with ease in 22/23, but his coaching is perfect for survival and his side’s signings fit the bill too.
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