Leeds United key partnership develops, new boy appears and off-camera Paderborn moments — YEP 27/7/25
By Graham Smyth
The YEP’s take and off-camera moments from Leeds United’s
second behind-closed-doors friendly in Germany against Paderborn.
Leeds United will spend two more days in Germany before
heading back home to finalise their Premier League preparations.
The Whites won 3-2 in a behind-closed-doors friendly against
German second tier side Paderborn on Saturday thanks to goals from Joel Piroe,
Willy Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha.
Sunday will bring more training sessions and they will be
back out on the grass at their team base in Harsewinkel on Monday morning
before travelling back to West Yorkshire. Here's the YEP take on the second
game of the trip.
Good day
Luis Engelns
The 18-year-old gave a very good account of himself against
his dad's side. He looked good on the ball and though he was bodied a couple of
times, he looked far from out of place against a big, physical newly-promoted
Premier League side.
Willy Gnonto
If you're allowed to call something 'vintage' when it comes
to such a young player, then the goal was vintage Gnonto. Picked it up, beat a
man, drove it low and hard into the bottom corner. That's where he's really
dangerous. His performance was lively and he looked to be enjoying every second
of it.
Jaka Bijol
A full 90-minute run out and an impressive display from the
centre-half. He and Joe Rodon looked very solid together, both made decent
recovery runs, won headers and tackles. It evidently has the makings of an
important partnership.
Bad day
Dan James
A frustrating half of football for the winger, who hasn't
looked back to his best yet so far in his pre-season outings. His pace is
always a factor but timing, awareness and touch have all looked a little rusty
so far.
Off-camera moments
Kit man Chris Beasley showing off his long throw with the
Bundesliga ball that would be used in the first half.
Backroom staff keeping the ball up between themselves.
Daniel Farke's son Luis Engelns coming out for a look at the
pitch with a couple of team-mates after arriving at the ground.
New signing Lucas Perri wandering out onto the pitch with
his new team-mates and having a look at the Bundesliga ball.
One of Leeds' security team enthusiastically applauding from
the stands as the goalkeepers came onto the pitch to warm up, to Karl Darlow's
delight.
Gabriel Gudmundsson emerging with a pair of boots in his
hand and a pair on his feet, shuffling and twisting on the turf to decide which
he would wear before laying down the pair in his hands. Ao Tanaka later
carefully picked up and removed Gudmundsson's boots from the pitch.
Paderborn keeper Markus Schubert giggling at Lukas Nmecha's
attempt at a fancy flick. The former Germany Under 21 players then shared an
embrace before heading down the tunnel.
Ampadu validating Joe Rodon's choice to go over the top with
a ball that found James offside, saying: "If they give us the space, we
use it."
Leeds MD Robbie Evans watching on from the top of the main
stand at Paderborn's ground, along with sporting director Adam Underwood.
Rodon greeting the half-time whistle with a four-letter
expletive.
Sebastiaan Bornawu doing his bit as a kit man, ferrying a
bag of Bundesliga balls to the side of the pitch as Leeds swapped to the
Premier League ball for the second half. Engelns came off in the second half
and walked down past the Leeds technical area where he and his dad shared a
smile and a slap of the hands but no words.
Goalkeeping coach Ed Wootten discussing the new rule
infringement with Karl Darlow at full-time. The keeper was pinged for holding
the ball too long and conceded a corner, but as Wootten pointed out Darlow was
in the motion of kicking it when the whistle sounded to penalise him.