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.”

Popular posts from this blog

The huge initial fee Leeds are set to receive for Crysencio Summerville’s move to West Ham — Leeds United News 31/7/24

Leeds United board break silence after transfer window with statement on upcoming Elland Road development — YEP 2/9/24

Leeds United transfer state of play as Whites knock back low bid and assert wing pair stance — YEP 3/7/24