'Sobbing' — Leeds United star on personal hardest part of Whites setback and next season message — YEP 9/6/24
By Lee Sobot
A Leeds star has opened up on the personal hardest part of a
big Whites setback - with a next season message.
Patrick Bamford has reflected on the personal hardest part
of a Leeds United setback with an important message ahead of next season’s
promotion bid.
Whites no 9 Bamford missed United’s last five games of the
2023-24 Championship season due to a knee injury, the striker looking on from
the Wembley sidelines as Daniel Farke’s side suffered a 1-0 defeat to
Southampton in the play-off final.
Bamford had already endured play-offs woe in his career, but
says attempting to lift tearful pair Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter in defeat
was particularly hard upon being unable to help on the field of play.
Speaking on the My Mate’s A Footballer podcast, Bamford also
declared that having at least two weeks to forget about football was important
ahead of next season after the ups and downs of the 2023-24 campaign.
Recalling the aftermath of the Wembley play-off final,
Bamford reasoned: “The hardest bit for me was that obviously I have been in
that position and because I wasn't fit to play, afterwards I am walking on the
pitch and I can see Georgi and Archie were like sobbing their hearts out.
"Going then and picking them up, I feel like I knew
what to say to them to get them round and try and help them. But I remember
back then going through it and how it felt so it was trying to find the right
words straight after you have just lost the biggest game of your life. It was
quite tough."
Asked if there was a club message for next season
immediately after defeat, Bamford declared: "It was more like go away the
next couple of weeks, just enjoy yourself, forget about football for a little
bit and then you are obviously then building up to come back in July and start
pre-season.
