Daniel Bachmann issues ‘strange’ Leeds United verdict, admits Watford were ‘scared’ of atmosphere in 3-0 defeat at Elland Road
Watford’s players were “scared” of the “atmosphere” and the “pressure” at Elland Road as they lost 3-0 to Leeds United, according to Daniel Bachmann.
The Hornets keeper admitted to the club’s official website after the game on Saturday (23 September) that the “biggest problem was in our heads” as they eventually wilted in defeat, while claiming it would be “strange if [Leeds] weren’t as good as they were today” after having been relegated from the Premier League.
Bachmann had thwarted the Whites almost single-handedly in the first half but couldn’t keep Joel Piroe, Sam Byram and Jaidon Anthony at bay after the break as a Georginio Rutter-inspired home side dominated.
Bachmann said: “It’s a tough one to take. Coming here we knew it wasn’t going to be easy with the squad they have, the crowd, the stadium, but apart from technically today, I thought the biggest problem was in our heads.
“You could see from the first whistle that some of the lads were struggling with the atmosphere and the pressure. Fair play to Leeds, they’ve obviously just got relegated so it would be strange if they weren’t as good as they were today.
“It’s disappointing from our point of view, but I think a lot was lost in the head today…
“I think you have got to take some positives out of the negatives. Like I said mentally, from my personal opinion, I felt like some people were a bit scared today. We are a good team that play good football. We always knew it was going to be difficult today coming to this place with the squad they have and obviously the crowd behind them.
“We had to switch that off and concentrate on us, and we didn’t do that today. That’s something we need to take going forward, that it’s just a game of football. Whether 30,000 people watch us or 60,000, it doesn’t matter, it’s a game of football. That’s what we need to learn from today.
“It was never going to be an easy game and it hurts. We never want to lose a game and concede three goals, especially from a goalkeeper’s point of view – it’s not nice.”
Home advantage
The irony is that it was the first home victory of the season for Leeds United when the support at Elland Road is often cited as a key factor.
It works both ways in that a team already struggling can feel extra pressure to perform in front of their own fans, as seemed to happen at times last season.
But with the turmoil of the opening weeks of the season now disappearing into the rearview mirror as Daniel Farke’s side continue to improve, the Whites’ 12th man turned that pressure onto the visitors on Saturday.
The summer hopes that this side could mount a real assault on immediate promotion are starting to look realistic again after a fourth clean sheet running, six games unbeaten, and a huge three points to send Leeds up to fifth in the table.
It is still very early days but if the defence can continue to keep things tight it will give the increasingly dangerous looking forward players the chance to shine.
Joel Piroe’s form has been up and down so far but four goals in five is difficult to criticise, while Rutter is suddenly starting to look like a club-record signing, and Dan James has hit some strong form.
If Leeds can turn Elland Road into a fortress off the back of the win against Watford then it will hugely increase their chances of a play-off spot at the very least, with things currently looking very positive.
In other Leeds United news, Max Wober has described a “terrible experience” at the club he never wants to have again after his loan move.