'We gave our all' - Leeds United's Jamie Shackleton on his pre-season minutes and 'tough' Real Betis test - YEP 31/7/21
Jamie Shackleton believed a tough test against a strong Real Betis outfit was just what Leeds United required in their Premier League preparations.
By Joe Urquhart
The Whites made the short trip to Leicestershire for a
Saturday lunchtime meeting with La Liga's sixth best side at Loughborough
University.
Manuel Pellegrini's men are bound for the Europa League in a
few weeks and gave Marcelo Bielsa's men a good run around - edging out United
3-2 in a closely-fought contest in front of around 3,000 supporters.
Leeds went ahead through Patrick Bamford after just six
minutes as United's number 9 glanced home a cross from summer signing Junior
Firpo.
Betis, though, hit back four minutes later through Aitor before
the Spanish tourists took the lead thanks to a low effort from Borja Iglesias.
Youssouf Sabaly then added a third before the hour mark as
the game ebbed and flowed, leaving Leeds with work to do as the clock ticked
down.
Mateusz Klich cut the lead back to one two minutes later to
give the game life once again with the Pole punishing a mistake at the back to
fire into the net.
Despite United's best efforts, Bielsa's men failed to level
late on even with good chances for Rodrigo and winger Helder Costa.
Shackleton - who was an early substitute for injured
defender Diego Llorente - was left pleased at full-time as Leeds continued to
build towards an all-important opening top flight game against Manchester
United on August 14.
"It was tough, particularly at stages in the second
half," Shackleton reflected post-match.
"They kept the ball well and we struggled to recover
the ball back high up the pitch which we always try to do. They played out well
which gave us a bit of a run around at times but we kept going and I thought we
dealt with it better.
"They're a good side, good on the ball. They're brave
and they like to receive it in dangerous areas and they're confident. Like I
said, they managed to play out well at times and that's when we struggled with
the press."
Asked about the late physicality which crept into the game -
notably Nabil Fekir's kick out at Pascal Struijk - he said: "As players it
is as if it's a league game. We worked hard, we ran around and we gave it our
all."
Shackleton featured for the entire match at Championship
side Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday night and picked up more valuable minutes
against Betis.
The Thorp Arch academy product filled in at right-back once
again and is enjoying the game time he's been afforded in pre-season so far.
"It's good getting minutes," the 21-year-old said.