Leeds star reveals frustration in interview with Darren Bent
Patrick Bamford insists that he can take criticism from Leeds United fans but it rubs him up the wrong way when people like David O’Leary are hitting out at him.
Earlier this week, the former Leeds manager told talkSPORT that the Whites need to sign themselves a new “top-class” centre-forward in the summer after winning promotion to the Premier League.
Bamford has been Marcelo Bielsa’s first-choice striker over the last two years but hasn’t quite scored the goals you would expect from a league-leading forward.
Bamford understands that Leeds need to sign another striker but is not willing to take criticism from people like O’Leary, who he suggests should know better.
“Do you know what? I’ve taken criticism throughout the whole season and off fans, you can understand it because they’re frustrated, they just want their team to win,” Bamford told Darren Bent on talkSPORT 2.
“Sometimes I think when you get it from people who’ve played the game, and have been involved in the game and they’re not in the whole package and there are other things being brought to the table, that’s what’s frustrating.
“I agree that you can’t go into the Premier League with one striker. That’s a given.
“But I also back myself that I’ll be trying to learn, I’ll be trying to improve and make sure I can do as well as I can in the Premier League.
“I’ve got the self-confidence that I can do the job and for me, it’s just about proving that now.”
Bamford does not need to justify himself to anyone.
At the end of the day, he has just won promotion and the Championship title with Leeds United by starting almost all of their matches up front.
The ex-Middlesbrough striker scored a more-than-respectable 16 goals in the process, which is more than enough when Leeds have players chipping with goals regularly from the midfield.
Of course, Bamford does get a lot of chances to score but the sheer number of chances that come his way mean that it is okay for him to miss more often than score.
This doesn’t mean Leeds don’t need to strengthen their attack in the summer. There are other areas that need upgrading but we would like to see a top striker come in to help Bamford out.
In other Leeds United news, Leeds have tabled an offer for this striker.