‘The biggest time for me’ – Liam Cooper shares best moment from Leeds supporters
Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper has admitted getting emotional from the reaction of the fans ahead of the ill-fated second leg of the play-offs last season.
After spending most of the season in the top two, Leeds finished third and fell at the first hurdle to, of all teams, Derby… a side Leeds had beaten three times that season ahead of the second leg. They ended up losing that game 4-2.
Talking at the recent player Q&A at Elland Road, Cooper admitted that the fans can help the players and that the atmosphere ahead of that game really affected him.
“One game, it didn’t end too well, the second leg of the play-offs, I think it was the only time… usually you’re so involved in the game you just blank what’s happening out there and just concentrate on your job on the pitch,” Cooper said.
“But before the game, Marching on Together was being sung, the flags were up, the scarves were up, I think that was the biggest time for me, where [exhales], I started filling up… it does help.
“But when you’re a player you try and block all of that out and concentrate on the game, that’s me personally anyway.”
Mateusz Klich had a slightly different take after scoring for fun last season and having a song created after his exploits.
If you haven’t heard it, the song goes: “It could be 20 yards or 30 yards everywhere we go, 40 yards or 50 yards, Klich is scoring goals, Klich is scoring goals.”
He scored 10 goals in the Championship last season. Unfortunately, he’s stopped scoring – he’s only got one this season – and Klich is blaming the song.
“I think my chant cursed me,” Klich said. “When the chant started coming out I stopped scoring goals, so stop singing it.”
In other Leeds news – MOT Tactics: Leeds on right track but big chances still going begging