‘Really important’ – Keown claims ‘intelligence’ of Leeds ace is key to his success under Bielsa
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said that Patrick Bamford’s intelligence has helped him to thrive under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds United.
Bamford scored his first Premier League hat-trick on Friday night in Leeds’ 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
The victory meant that Bielsa’s side finish the weekend fifth in the Premier League with six matches played, while the 27-year-old striker already has six goals to his name.
The former Middlesbrough and Chelsea striker has scored 32 goals since arriving at Elland Road in July 2018 and Keown feels that he is well-suited to playing under Leeds’ Argentine coach.
Speaking about Bamford on Football Focus (07:27), the former England defender highlighted his intelligence as being key to the team’s play.
“I think he is really important in all of this with his intelligence,” Keown said.
“He is a linguist, speaks different languages, he turned down an opportunity to go to Harvard University, and you almost need that to play in a Bielsa team, such are the instructions.
“The Premier League has been turned upside down.”
Leeds face Leicester City at Elland Road in their next Premier League fixture, with Bamford looking to continue his run of goal scoring form.
The striker has made an impressive start to the season and is averaging 3.8 shots per game according to WhoScored.
His upbringing hasn’t always worked for him.
The Daily Mail claimed that he was shunned at Burnley because of his middle-class upbringing but in Bielsa he seems to have found the manager who understands him.
With talk of a potential England call-up on the horizon, it is now a matter of maintaining his very best form and continuing to contribute to a Leeds side sitting fifth in the table and just three points off the top.
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