Candid Leeds United striker makes 'top dog' Georginio comment and reveals expletive subs bench reaction — YEP 17/11/23
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford has opened up on the truth behind competition for places at Elland Road and experiences throughout his career which have shaped his outlook towards positional rivals.
By Joe Donnohue
The 30-year-old joined comedian Joe Wilkinson on the first
episode of new podcast series 'My Mate's a Footballer', produced by BBC Sounds,
revealing his thoughts on teammate Georginio Rutter, dealing with being a
substitute and his honest reaction to positional rivals hitting the back of the
net while he spends time out of the side.
Bamford's involvement under Daniel Farke this season has
been limited with all eight league appearances coming from the bench. The
experienced forward returned from injury at the end of September and has
appeared in each of Leeds' last eight matches, comprised of six wins and two
defeats, but is yet to find the back of the net this term.
Reflecting on competition for places, Bamford said: "I
guess we play with one striker, so Georginio [Rutter] at the minute but he's
playing quite well to be fair to him.
"I don't mind it [the competition]. There's sometimes
I've been in positions [and thought], 'this guy, he's not a particularly nice
guy off the pitch either', not Georginio, but clubs I've been at.
"Georgi, he's a funny guy and is a really nice
lad," Bamford added.
French youth international Rutter has recently earned a
recall to the France Under-21 setup having begun the 2023/24 campaign in
sterling form for Leeds. His place in the Leeds team is relatively secure owing
to his creativity, work-rate and more recently goal contributions.
Bamford believes he still has a role to play in influencing
the young attacker, though, even if he isn't on the pitch.
"When I was younger, coming up and trying to get into
that top dog position, I was always competing and making sure I scored more or
trained better than them.
"To be honest it hasn't really changed much, so now
that I'm a little bit older, they're almost looking up to me the younger ones.
I still do the same, I make sure that I'm training better and scoring more in
training.
"I think in the end of it, it pushes them as well, 'cos
if they're feeling how I felt when I was younger then they're going to be
trying as well so it's just going to improve everyone."
Bamford also admitted that when out of the side previously,
witnessing positional rivals hitting the back of the net had elicited a
one-word response upon realising said goal is likely to keep him out of the
team longer.
"When the goal goes in it doesn't matter who's scored
it. It's a team game isn't it, everyone's elated in that moment, you forgot who
it is who's actually scored.
"But don't get me wrong there has been times in the
past when I've been on the bench and a striker's scored and I'm sat there
thinking, '****'."
