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'We've outdone ourselves' - Player hints at Leeds overachievement in PL
Patrick Bamford believes Leeds United have outdone themselves this season in their first campaign in the Premier League for 16 years.
Leeds’ number nine scored his twelfth league goal in 2020/21 as his side won 2-0 at Elland Road to Crystal Palace on Monday evening.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bamford explained that staying up so the club can progress next year was the aim this season.
He said: “After being out of the league for 16 years it’s important for a big club like Leeds to just kind of get a foot in the league again and then build from that.
“I think we’ve outdone ourselves coming up, to be honest, and I think we’ve taken a lot of teams by surprise but it’s no more than we deserve.
“In some patches of the season we’ve been brilliant, sometimes we’ve let ourselves down so its consistency, but it definitely bodes well for the future for Leeds.”
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Marching on together
The squad put in another excellent team performance on Monday. A win moved us into the top ten, ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand.
It was a third win in six games for Marcelo Bielsa’s men. It puts them on 32 points after 22 matches played. His high-intensity football has taken the lead by storm.
Leeds have won more defensive duels, 1815, than any other team in the top-flight [WyScout]. They’ve 131 ahead of second-placed West Brom.
The Whites have averaged 59.5% possession per game. This is bettered only by Liverpool and Manchester City, a phenomenal stat for a newly-promoted side. They’re showing no fear in their approach, keen to press and win the ball back and then hold onto it.
Bamford, in particular, is very deserving of the credit he continues to receive. He’s been directly involved in 17 goals for his club in the league. That makes him joint fourth behind Son, Salah, Fernandes and Kane. Elite company.
He’s had the fourth most attempts on goal in the league, with 67. Of those, 22 have been with his head, which is the most.
He netted his 100th league goal last night. If he continues in this form surely he’ll get a cap for England before the end of the season.
In other Leeds United news, here are the player ratings from the win over Crystal Palace.