Leeds United: Ethan Ampadu has ‘stern word’ with Illan Meslier in unseen moment v Coventry City
Joe Donnohue has shared why Ethan Ampadu had a “stern word” with Leeds United team-mate Illan Meslier during the loss to Coventry City.
The Leeds Live journalist shared the unseen moment in an article for the online publication [7 April] following the 2-1 loss at the CBS Arena.
United fell to goals from Ellis Simms and Haji Wright, with Joel Piroe’s effort proving nothing more than a consolation for the Whites.
Of one unseen moment, Donnohue wrote: “As Leeds pushed forward for a route back into the game, Ethan Ampadu had a stern word with Illan Meslier for sitting too deep on the edge of his penalty area, urging the goalkeeper to take up a more advanced position inside Leeds’ half to help United in build-up.”
How much did Ethan Ampadu cost Leeds United?
Ampadu may only be 23 years of age, but he is already a vastly experienced player and certainly does not mind telling his seniors what to do.
Leeds had to change things for the second half and that meant taking a more proactive approach, explaining why Ampadu wanted Meslier playing higher up.
That is a risky strategy, of course, but United simply had to go all out for a goal, which did eventually arrive through Piroe but was not enough in the end.
Ampadu has all the makings of being a long-term captain at Elland Road, with his arrival from Chelsea last summer for a reported £7million [BBC Sport] turning out to be a massive coup for the club.
While the result against Coventry City was disappointing, Leeds’ form in 2024 as a whole has been nothing short of sensational. It is now a case of regrouping ahead of the visit of Sunderland in midweek.
In other Leeds United news, a fixture headache now awaits at Elland Road following a development this week.
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