![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.
![After seeing his side lose at Elland Road on Boxing Day, former Stoke boss Narcis Pelach said: "We have to put this to bed quick, the Leeds United one, because at the end of the day, [they are] a team that is out of our league, and this is a reality. You are going to win one in 10 against them. You need to be resilient against these type of teams, because they make you defend a lot, they have a lot of possession, and then if you press them high and you go late, they beat the press, and then they have an open goal. But then if you sit, it's just that you are not trying. For us, Leeds is one of the best, if not the best."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/12/28/8/23/GettyImages-2189246792.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
19. Stoke City
After seeing his side lose at Elland Road on Boxing Day, former Stoke boss Narcis Pelach said: "We have to put this to bed quick, the Leeds United one, because at the end of the day, [they are] a team that is out of our league, and this is a reality. You are going to win one in 10 against them. You need to be resilient against these type of teams, because they make you defend a lot, they have a lot of possession, and then if you press them high and you go late, they beat the press, and then they have an open goal. But then if you sit, it's just that you are not trying. For us, Leeds is one of the best, if not the best." | Getty Images
20. Sunderland
After losing late on at Elland Road last month, Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris said: "With the crowd, the energy of the stadium - it was always increasing and even with our subs we didn't find the solution to change this energy. Obviously we played a strong team and we have to admit that we can be overwhelmed sometimes by their strength, because they were good." | Getty Images
![Leeds were made to fight right until the end to beat Swansea City 4-3 in November and before the seven-goal thriller, former Swansea boss Luke Williams said: "Personally I think they will [be promoted]. It's not like there aren’t other excellent sides in the division, but this group have been together and had a very good season last season, when [they missed out as] the teams at the top had very high points totals. They have built on that and have an excellent manager who has been in this position in many times. That's a good combination. They are an absolutely fabulous team at the level."](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmM4ZGQwZmQzLTE4YjItNGY2YS1hM2Y4LWMzODk4YzI5YTU4ODo1ZTk4YTI3OC0zMWEyLTQyZTAtYjZhZi05MWJhZjk5OGUyYmY=.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
21. Swansea City
Leeds were made to fight right until the end to beat Swansea City 4-3 in November and before the seven-goal thriller, former Swansea boss Luke Williams said: "Personally I think they will [be promoted]. It's not like there aren’t other excellent sides in the division, but this group have been together and had a very good season last season, when [they missed out as] the teams at the top had very high points totals. They have built on that and have an excellent manager who has been in this position in many times. That's a good combination. They are an absolutely fabulous team at the level." Photo: Dan Istitene/Getty Images
22. Watford
Leeds thumped Watford 4-0 at Vicarage Road last month, after which manager Tom Cleverley admitted: "We were in the presence of a very strong Championship side, one of the best I've seen at this level. It's a very expensive squad they have. We go to Fulham in the cup and you see what a midtable Premier League side looks like and that looks like something close to that level tonight. They punished us heavily and that comes with pace, quality and a very high calibre of player." | Getty Images
![After seeing his side draw 1-1 at Elland Road earlier this month, Tony Mowbray said: “[Leeds] are very, very good. I’m sure in my mind they are going up. I think for this football club it’s about what they do in the summer. I had a chat with Daniel, how much are they going to spend? How are they going to survive? There’s always this thing at the back of your mind – ‘what are we going to do in the summer?’ Are Leeds going to spend £200m just to give themselves half a chance? Or are they going to go with this team and probably get relegated by February? I don’t know the answers.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2025/03/19/10/22/GettyImages-2199390868.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
23. West Brom
After seeing his side draw 1-1 at Elland Road earlier this month, Tony Mowbray said: “[Leeds] are very, very good. I’m sure in my mind they are going up. I think for this football club it’s about what they do in the summer. I had a chat with Daniel, how much are they going to spend? How are they going to survive? There’s always this thing at the back of your mind – ‘what are we going to do in the summer?’ Are Leeds going to spend £200m just to give themselves half a chance? Or are they going to go with this team and probably get relegated by February? I don’t know the answers.” | Getty Images