Why Gjanni Alioski believes Leeds United's Premier League experience is yet to be fulfilled

Leeds United travel to Chelsea this weekend in Premier League action.
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Gjanni Alioski believes Leeds United's Premier League experience will never be whole until supporters can join the Elland Road journey.

The Whites' faithful have had to make do with watching on from afar since mid-March amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

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Marcelo Bielsa's side won promotion to the top flight in the summer following an elongated Championship campaign, but widespread celebrations with United's raucous support had to be put on hold in an official capacity.

Leeds United's Gjanni Alioski in action against Everton. Pic: PALeeds United's Gjanni Alioski in action against Everton. Pic: PA
Leeds United's Gjanni Alioski in action against Everton. Pic: PA

Leeds have began the new top flight campaign in much the same fashion in which they left the Football League, playing out their opening 10 fixtures without fans in attendance.

United travel to Chelsea this weekend in league action with around 2,000 home fans being allowed through the turnstiles at Stamford Bridge for the first time in over seven months.

England's second national lockdown has lifted and under new tiered restrictions a small percentage of supporters will be allowed to watch professional football in person.

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Leeds, though, remains under the highest government guidelines, meaning games must remain behind closed doors for the foreseeable future in LS11.

Bielsa's men have amassed 14 points so far this term, and have made an impressive start to life back amongst England's elite after 16 years away in the wilderness.

Whites' utility man Alioski has revealed that the players are enjoying the challenge of the Premier League, but admits his belief that it will only be truly complete once fans are permitted back to the stands.

"You can never breathe, every team is strong," Alioski told LUTV recently of how he had adapted to the top fight.

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"It's good quality in every game, which is nice. But the feeling is more with the fans and the public. When you have the crowd I think you can feel it more.

"Now, of course we enjoy it. We're trying everything to do our best and to enjoy the teams that we play. For everyone it was a dream to play these teams, now we are there.

"We need to enjoy every moment and show them that we deserve to be here. I think everybody likes it.

"It's nice to see how well we do normally in the Premier League because we've shown we play nice football.

"The feeling to have it [properly], I think we need the Leeds fans in the background. We miss them. I hope that soon it will change so we can play some games in the Premier League with our fans."

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