Patrick Bamford makes surprise revelation on Javi Gracia despite brief Leeds United stint — Leeds Live 19/11/23
Patrick Bamford was asked about his relationship with previous managers and the striker named former Leeds United boss Javi Gracia as someone he continues to talk to
Patrick Bamford admits he had a 'really good' relationship
with former Leeds United head coach Javi Gracia and the pair remain in contact.
Gracia was dismissed in May after just 10 weeks and 12 matches in charge, with
interim boss Sam Allardyce failing to secure a win as the Whites slipped to
Premier League relegation.
Bamford is in the midst of his sixth season at Elland Road,
and enjoyed his best return in the 2020/2021 season as he netted 17 times in
Leeds' first season back in the Premier League. However, the number nine is yet
to make a start this term under Daniel Farke, due to an injury suffered in
pre-season and the form of both Georginio Rutter and summer signing Joel Piroe.
Bamford was asked whether he had ever become friends with
any of his managers by comedian Joe Wilkinson on the first episode of the My
Mate's a Footballer podcast. The striker namechecked Gracia along with former
Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka as two he has remained in touch with.
Bamford said: "There's been quite a few managers who
I've had really good relationships with. The ones who came in last year, Javi
Gracia, even now I still speak to him and his staff, they were lovely.
"One of the other guys I had when I was at
Middlesbrough called Aitor [Karanka], even now since I've left because I was
only on loan when he was there, I've always been close to him. We speak every
so often, it's one of them where the managers you're closest with, you tend to
still have a relationship even when you're not playing under them or they've
left."
