O'Leary walking the tightrope

'Look,' he said. 'Arsenal got beat here. I don't think they like to get beaten. End of story.'

On recent evidence, Leeds hate to lose even more. The spirit which pervades everyone and everything at Elland Road is an extension of that same singular determination to succeed which their boss possessed as a player.

When Valencia arrive tomorrow, they will doubtless sense the prevailing air of confidence which has helped propel Leeds this far. If they are not apprehensive already, they should be.

Hector Cuper's spies will have reported the devastating way in which Leeds took on Chelsea in an energy sapping match that resembled unarmed combat.

The Valencia coach will also hear how O'Leary astutely switched to three strikers for the last 10 minutes of a match which seemed destined for stalemate, until Robbie Keane - who replaced Harry Kewell - broke the deadlock.

Most significant, though, was the manner in which Mark Viduka finished Claudio Ranieri's side off in the final minute. His volley from 20 yards was indicative of everything which makes this Leeds side so formidable. Full- blooded and confident, Viduka cracked his shot past Carlo Cudicini with venom.

If this laid-back Australian can be stirred into such passion, something special is happening. Viduka put his finger on it with a degree of perception as accurate as his shooting.

'Not many teams want to play against us,' he said. 'We have the aggression and the energy. We have team spirit and high tempo. Those qualities give you an edge - especially in Europe. Maybe other countries aren't used to it.'

O'Leary described his preference for players 'with energy, because it is a game for athletes' and Viduka is anticipating another high octane contest against the Spaniards.

'Valencia have a good home record and they don't concede many goals,' he added. 'A lot of clubs come here thinking they might get a result but we manage to do well. Deportivo was very tough, especially the second game, and we were a little bit lucky to get through. It will be very similar against Valencia.' O'Leary has similar thoughts about the way in which the match will pan out.

'I think it's going to be a game where both teams are very similar,' he said. 'Both work for each other and they are more defensively solid than Deportivo.

'It was good preparation against Chelsea and the bottom line is not to concede a goal - but we're always in with a chance of scoring one or two.'

Chelsea's best chance on Saturday came from Gianfranco Zola's bending shot which hit a post. The little Italian remains the one player who can regularly elevate his side above mediocre.

Ranieri, however, is either unfazed or uncaring about his team's lack of ingenuity - it is hard to tell which.

There is no such lack of spark about O'Leary and that is one of the reasons why Leeds are where Chelsea would love to be.

O'Leary said: 'We play with passion and aggression - a certain brand of football that's attacking and refreshing. I think the whole country likes to see us.'

All eyes will certainly be upon them come Wednesday.