They were words attributed to the mouth of The Great Man, and they are a perfect fit for the eve of the opening day of a season that we have waited all summer for, or 18 years, depending on the context. It’s also a season that begins with a fixture that is so mouth-watering that it makes you wonder whether it was randomly generated, or the result of an algorithm designed to maximise global interest in the start of the English Premier League. It’s scum away, and I’m excited beyond belief.

Leeds United - The Class of '21

It was a season played behind closed doors, with a significant chunk of passion taken by having to watch on TV, at home with only clueless pundits for company, spouting the same old crap about Luke Ayling having played for Yeovil (why’s that such a big deal??) and Stuart Dallas being a born and bread Yorkshireman. Even more annoying than still having to listen to Andy Hinchcliffe was having to watch another replay of a nothing foul, while you could hear the Leeds players zipping the ball around, trying to launch another attack. When you add those sad bastards in a caravan at Stockley Park into the equation you wonder how any child could fall in love with this game. Thankfully, Bielsaball is here to save the day.

It was such a strange feeling to be getting ready for the match, the emotions were swirling around inside me and I don’t even know what they were. I was happy but I didn’t feel happy. I wasn’t nervous but I did feel nervous. Maybe it was a type of survivors’ guilt, knowing that so many of the Leeds United family wouldn’t be there to witness this momentous occasion, the day we had all been dreaming of for well over a year now. It was truly bitter-sweet.