![Former manager John Eustace said following January's 1-1 draw at Elland Road: "We defended really well, limited them to next to nothing. We're coming to the best team in the league, best squad of players and to come away with a draw is really pleasing. I thought it was a really, really soft penalty [for a foul on Mateo Joseph]. I don't think we'd have got it if it was at the other end. It's a fantastic football club, 36,000 fans, the ref is always under pressure to give a decision. There's a lot of pressure on how we had to defend the box today and we defended it really well. To get the equaliser in the end was brilliant."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/01/01/19/25/GettyImages-2191763266.jpeg?crop=3:2,smart&trim=&width=640&quality=70&enable=upscale)
Leeds United have been seriously impressive this season and sit top of the Championship for a reason. Daniel Farke’s side have the most potent attack in England’s top four divisions, one of the sternest defences and a squad depth many in the second-tier would envy.
It’s not been a perfect campaign, as it never is in the Championship, but with the March international break underway they remain many people’s favourites to go up - and a lot of those tipping a return to the Premier League are opposition managers. The weekly praise given to Leeds has bordered on ridiculous at times as rival bosses explain how their respective side was picked apart.
Leeds have played all but eight Championship teams twice and so now seems as good a time as any to see exactly what those opposition managers have said throughout the season. Take a look below to see the pick of the quotes from each of their 23 league rivals.
7. Hull City
After seeing his side come from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 against Leeds in January, Selles said of Ao Tanaka's goal : “It was so quick. It was an excellent action from Tanaka, straight into the top corner. It’s always difficult, because there are things you can do better but we are talking about the best players in the league.” Photo: Martin Rickett
![Ahead of his side's November trip to Elland Road which ended in a 3-0 defeat, former Luton boss Rob Edwards said: "They’re probably the best team [in the division]. They have some great individuals and they’re playing with a lot of confidence."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmI5N2Y2NWRkLWYwMjQtNGYyZC1iMGIyLWMwYTgwNTM5YmFjZjpjYWM3OGQyMy0yMDhmLTQwYzQtOTRlNC0zODk5MWM0MDViMzg=.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
8. Luton Town
Ahead of his side's November trip to Elland Road which ended in a 3-0 defeat, former Luton boss Rob Edwards said: "They’re probably the best team [in the division]. They have some great individuals and they’re playing with a lot of confidence." Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
![Boro lost 3-1 at Elland Road in December, after which Michael Carrick said: "You have to feed off the disappointment and not just accept it. They're a Premier League set-up really. They're a good team. They have largely Premier League players who've played a lot at that level. It's not for me to say whether they are [the strongest team in the division] or not."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/03/17/11/06/GettyImages-2205239253.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
9. Middlesbrough
Boro lost 3-1 at Elland Road in December, after which Michael Carrick said: "You have to feed off the disappointment and not just accept it. They're a Premier League set-up really. They're a good team. They have largely Premier League players who've played a lot at that level. It's not for me to say whether they are [the strongest team in the division] or not." | Getty Images
10. Millwall
Following Millwall's 2-0 defeat at Elland Road earlier this month, head coach Alex Neil said: "Whenever you’re a team that wants to get promoted, you look at the three facets of your team, the forward line, your midfield line, your back line,. What Leeds have got is they’ve got top six players in their back line, top six players in their midfield, top six players in their front line. You’ve got that, you’re not far away. They’ve got a manager who knows the course, has been promoted, knows what it looks like. So when you put all that together, it’s no surprise there where they are.” | AFP via Getty Images
11. Norwich City
Ahead of his side's trip to Elland Road that ended in defeat, Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup said: “The start of the season was not good enough. The mid-block of the season was not good enough defensively. That is probably why we are where we are. But, if we look at Leeds, they are probably up there on the offensive stats but also up there on the defensive stats. That is the reason why they are top of the table. So its fair to say they are probably the toughest test for us at the moment, but that’s also what makes it exciting.” | Getty Images
![Oxford were without a manager during their 4-0 defeat at Elland Road in December, after which caretaker boss Craig Short said: "There's a massive gulf in class in this division. We've realised that lately, Sunderland away, Middlesbrough at home, Sheffield United away, there's a big gulf but we're in a mini-league. [Leeds are] the best I've seen this year, by a long way. Those boys are Premiership players and potential Premiership players. That's best I've seen, physicality and athleticism."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/03/13/11/34/GettyImages-2190955461.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
12. Oxford United
Oxford were without a manager during their 4-0 defeat at Elland Road in December, after which caretaker boss Craig Short said: "There's a massive gulf in class in this division. We've realised that lately, Sunderland away, Middlesbrough at home, Sheffield United away, there's a big gulf but we're in a mini-league. [Leeds are] the best I've seen this year, by a long way. Those boys are Premiership players and potential Premiership players. That's best I've seen, physicality and athleticism." | George Wood/Getty Images Photo: George Wood/Getty Images