Max Wober describes ‘terrible experience’ at Leeds United he ‘never’ wants to have again after loan exit
Max Wober has described how relegation with Leeds United was something that he never wants to go through again, calling it a “terrible experience”.
Speaking to Rheinische Post (22 September) the Borussia Monchengladbach loanee said the drop left him feeling like he’d “failed”, and being unable to “sacrifice everything” for the club and employees was a situation he doesn’t want to repeat.
The Austrian was arguably the Whites best defender last term despite only arriving from Red Bull Salzburg in January, and his subsequent loan departure to Borussia Monchengladbach was one of the most disappointing developments of the summer transfer window.
Wober said of relegation: “It’s a [expletive] feeling, on the one hand for you personally, because you have the impression that you’ve failed. On the other hand, it becomes clear throughout the whole thing what is involved.
“In England, the budget cuts after relegation are initially being absorbed. But if you stay at the bottom… the pressure builds up to sacrifice everything for the club and the employees.
“Not being able to do that was a terrible experience that I never want to have again.”
Fight or flight
On the surface everything Wober has said is completely valid, but it likely won’t make many Leeds United fans feel much better about his subsequent exit.
The 25-year-old, as with a whole host of other first-team players, used relegation release clauses in their contracts to make swift departures back to top flight clubs in England or around Europe.
So, while Wober isn’t as responsible as some of his Elland Road teammates for going down, it doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny for those that left to feel that bad about relegation if they then essentially failed upwards out of actually dealing with the consequences.
It is quite possible that given the opportunity most players would have done the same as Wober following relegation, and in the same situation plenty of fans probably would have done too.
But when supporters are committed to the club come what may they obviously aren’t going to be delighted when players don’t want to take the rough with the smooth.
Willy Gnonto’s return to the team after trying to leave earlier this season is evidence enough that players can come back, and if they perform well can also win over supporters again.
How many of those who made loan exits this summer end up back at the club next year will be a major feature of the transfer window when the season ends, but if the manner of their exits don’t prove to be a barrier to a return Wober and Luis Sinisterra are probably the most useful to Daniel Farke.
In other Leeds United news, Phil Hay wouldn’t be surprised if the manager told the club to give a new contract to a player he “really rates”.