NOBODY KNOWS HOW HARD IT’S BEEN

Phillips on the problems and pride involved in home-town club’s fight for Prem survival

- DAVID ANDERSON

KALVIN PHILLIPS says “nobody knows how difficult it’s been” after Leeds’ dramatic final-day relegation escape act.

Phillips and his teammates defied the odds – and many pundits – by winning at Brentford to clinch a third season in the Premier League and send Burnley down.

Boss Jesse Marsch (inset, below) was without several key players for the decisive clash because of injury, illness and suspension, such as Patrick Bamford, Luke Ayling and Stuart Dallas.

Marsch was parachuted in at the end of February to replace the idolised Marcelo Bielsa (inset, top) with Leeds in freefall, and Phillips says the last few months have been extremely tough.