Peter Crouch makes big claim concerning Leeds supporters

Peter Crouch has insisted that Leeds United are the Premier League side who will suffer the most by not having any supporters attending games, in comments reported by the Daily Mail.

The Whites have begun their first top flight campaign since 2003/04. However, it has been a start to the season that no side has previously been used to.

The stadiums remain empty and it is not yet clear when fans will gradually be allowed to return to grounds.

It has sparked an interesting debate surrounding which teams benefit most from playing in front of virtually no-one. But Crouch is convinced that no debate is necessary when it comes to suggesting which side loses the most in this environment.

“Leeds. Definitely Leeds,” he told the Mail, when asked which team will lost most. “I played at Elland Road a few times and, I mean this in the most respectful sense, it was horrible.

“The fans make it an ordeal for visiting supporters and I can remember the buzz there for Marcelo Bielsa’s first match against Stoke two years ago. In the Premier League, the intensity would have been even greater and would have given them such a lift.

“It’s hard to put a points tally on what their supporters would be worth but I can assure you a full Elland Road would make a positive difference.”

TBR View: Leeds have already silenced doubters

Some would have been forgiven for wondering whether the circumstances would work against Leeds as they battled for promotion in the final stages of last season.

However, Marcelo Bielsa’s side were outstanding. They did lose their first game back. But they then went on to win seven and draw one of their final eight games to win the title at something of a canter.

Their first home game back is yet to come. However, they showed few signs of being overawed in the curtain-raiser against Liverpool.

You can certainly understand why Crouch believes that Leeds will be better off once the supporters are back. But the early signs suggest that the Whites will make it work in the meantime.

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