Leeds United 'divas' comment in clearest clue yet of Brenden Aaronson's selection fate — Leeds Live 29/11/24
He's under increasing pressure from the in-form wingers for his place
Goals and assists continue to flow from all but one part of
Leeds United’s attack, making it hard to ignore Brenden Aaronson as a candidate
for the chop. And yet, there is so much more to his role in Daniel Farke’s
system than goals and assists, as the manager proudly proclaimed in a defence
of the American’s importance.
Largie Ramazani’s return to fitness in an already crowded
battle for starts down the flanks has naturally led to considering how Farke
fits more of those talents into the team. The statistics would suggest Aaronson
is not doing enough as a central cog in the division’s best attack, but Farke’s
latest assessment would suggest there is little chance of him being supplanted
any time soon.
On Sunday, for example, Aaronson covered more distance than
any player in any Championship game this season, according to the German. That
work rate, stamina, resilience and determination is holding the front four
together.
“He is always unbelievable from his workload,” said Farke.
“In the last game (Swansea), he was there with the highest distance in the
whole league of any player in any game.
“He's so crucial for us because we have many players who
make things happen, more or less out of winger positions or pocket positions,
we have our creativity from the wing and our quality with goals and assists and
we need, in the centre of the park, a player who also covers lots of distance.
That’s what he always delivers.
“He could have been a bit more tidy on the ball in the
recent weeks. Today (against Luton Town), he brought himself into many good and
interesting positions and I liked it a lot.
“He was crucial also for our game. I would have wished he
would have been perhaps there with a goal or with an assist. It's always good
for the confidence of my offensive players, but, overall, he's a crucial and
important player for us.”
Farke did not want to be too critical of his other
attackers, but could not help himself calling them divas or, more sensitively,
starlets. Either way, their disappointment when they lose possession is
compensated by the drive of Aaronson to pick up the pieces and return
possession to them.
They are the small moments Farke likes from the American and
why, it seems, the prospect of a winger starting through the centre tomorrow
seems quite remote.
“Also, with his ability to win the ball back when one of the
offensive, I don't want to be too critical, divas, starlets or whatever, lose
the ball and show a bit disappointment,” he said. “Then Brenden runs after the
ball and wins the ball back for them.
“We need this attitude and he's also a role model for how we
are not the finished end product. [He is] sometimes there with a mistake, but
with a big heart and big identification with this club, big resilience and big
belief and gives everything for the group.
“This is what we are all about at the moment. This is also
the reason why we are there with such consistency and good results.”