'They live and breathe it' - Luke Ayling admits one regret from Leeds United's promotion campaign

Luke Ayling has admitted his one regret from Leeds United's promotion-winning campaign was the lack of celebrations with Elland Road supporters.

Marcelo Bielsa's side claimed the Championship title by a 10-point margin last July after an elongated season amid the global pandemic.

The Whites were forced to play out the remaining games of the campaign behind closed doors as they made history by earning a spot in the Premier League after 16 years in the Football League wilderness.

Mass celebrations were put on hold for the club due to ongoing restrictions over social distancing.

There was an outpouring in Millenium Square while the club came under criticism for showing off the second division trophy outside the ground where a small number of fans had gathered following the final game of the campaign.

For Ayling, though, the lack of celebration with the club's fan base is his only regret from an otherwise amazing achievement in LS11 last term.

“Honestly, the noise is something else," Ayling smiled when asked about Elland Road by Amazon.

"Obviously, we were all so happy to be promoted [last season] and it was unreal, but deep down inside you’re just so upset that fans weren’t there and we didn’t get the chance to do the bus tour and just stuff like that.

“The fans here, they live and breathe it, it’s just a crazy city for their football and I’m lucky enough to play for it."

Asked about missing fans in the top flight this season, he said: "Elland Road with fans in it [in the Premier League] will be rocking.

"One of the motivations for us as a team is to make sure we're in this league so we get to experience Anfield, Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford with fans in it."