Liam Cooper still playing a key Leeds United role as Daniel Farke pushes through his new era — Leeds Live 6/8/24
Daniel Farke appointed a young leadership group at Leeds United this summer and he has explained why with an angle on bringing more from them including a key Liam Cooper mentorship
Sticking a foot in or leaving one on an opponent. It’s part
and parcel of the Championship, the dark arts every successful side must master
through nine gruelling months. Often, that side of the game comes with
experience, nous and knowing how to get under someone’s skin.
Leeds United do not have such experience. Daniel Farke is
going into the new season with two outfield players over 30 and neither of them
currently gets into his strongest line-up. When the average age of the
manager’s recently appointed leadership group is 24, you get the picture.
Saturday’s clash with Valencia was a glimpse into the edge
we are starting to see from skipper Ethan Ampadu, however. There were shades of
aggression from the Wales international in Germany against Schalke one week
earlier too.
The La Liga outfit did not need a second invitation to show
a frustrated, physical side to their game, but Ampadu virtually gave as good as
he got. It’s an edge Farke has called for, not only from his captain, but
Pascal Struijk and Illan Meslier too. Leadership and setting the tone.
“Not just from Ethan, even with our leadership group,” said
Farke. “Normally, especially in this league, you have club captains who are
older than 30 and the leadership group is three or four guys who are in their
30s.
“We have a pretty young side. Ethan had the best mentor with
Liam Cooper. Ethan, as the new club captain, has to fill big footsteps because
Liam has done unbelievable for this club.
“What he has done and delivered over a decade was
outstanding. He has led this club into the Premier League, has made sure they
also had one really good year there and was a fantastic person, a fantastic
player for this club.”
Cooper was released when his contract expired on June 30 and
he is yet to sign with a new club. His exit, along with those of Stuart Dallas
and Luke Ayling in 2024, has heralded a new era at Elland Road.
In choosing Ampadu, Struijk and Meslier, Farke wants to put
another piece in place for his long-term vision. These are players he wants to
coax more responsibility from as pillars of the club moving forward.
“When you are so young in age and just one year at the club
and you have to try to fulfil these big footsteps, it's never easy, but it was
also our choice with Ethan, also with Pascal and with Illan,” he said. “Pretty
young leadership group, but this is what we're all about.
“We are trying to build something new for the future and
these lads have to step up right now. Although they are young at age, they have
the right mindset and the right character to lead.
“When I think about the games, for example, Illan Meslier
has already played on this level and we want them to step up and give them a
bit more responsibility and back them even a bit more. We ask them to lead a
bit more and to act with even more maturity, with even more responsibility for
the whole group.
“This was the reason we decided then to give such a young
leadership group, with Ethan as the captain and Illan and Pascal as
vice-captains.”
Patrick Bamford and Sam Byram, the aforementioned
30-somethings, stand out as the most experienced and longest-serving Leeds
faces who were overlooked for the leadership group. Farke still wants them to
play their part, though.
“Even experienced players like Sam Byram, like Patrick
Bamford need to help to lead the group because it's not just with two or three
players,” he said. “We want mature players on the pitch and, especially in the
second half, when Valencia tried to send many signs and try to provoke
whatever, it was important to have this natural aggression.
“We don't dwell under it and Ethan was a leader in these
terms and there’s no coincidence he wears the captain’s armband.”