Ethan Ampadu makes "two per cent" Leeds United declaration on Burnley draw with admission and avoids excuse — YEP 28/1/25
By Lee Sobot
Leeds took a goalless draw from their Monday night clash at
Burnley.
Whites captain Ethan Ampadu has given his verdict on Leeds
United’s goalless draw at Burnley with a “two per cent” declaration and
avoidance of a potential excuse.
The league’s best defence and best attack went head to head
in Monday night’s top-of-the-table clash at Turf Moor which failed to produce a
single goal and indeed only one shot on target.
Championship frontrunners Leeds finally provided that shot
on target in the 89th minute through a rasping Dan James half-volley from a
corner which Clarets keeper James Trafford tipped over the bar as the two sides
left with a point apiece.
The draw extended the Leeds advantage over second-placed
Sheffield United to two points and also kept Burnley three points away in
third.
Speaking post-match to LUTV, Ampadu just about concluded
that the draw was a good point but declared that his side needed an extra two
per cent of energy as he pointed to United’s high standards and disappointment
at not winning.
Asked whether it felt like a good point, Ampadu reasoned:
“Yeah, when you think about it, I think we hold ourselves to such high
expectations. We wanted to go out and win.
“Maybe the first half we showed them a little bit too much
respect with how they defend.
"They have only conceded nine for a reason, they're
hard to break down, hard to play against, they're good at what they do. But
maybe we would have liked to have shown a little bit more, maybe that little
two per cent more energy from all of us. But yeah."
Pressed on Leeds doing very well defensively, Ampadu said:
“All of us we had to switch on.
“We know they done us with a counter attack in the home game
so we know that their transitions are big for them. It was all about trying to
cut them out. We did, happy with a clean sheet away here. It's a good point but
because of our expectations, it's natural to be a little bit, not down, but you
know what I'm trying to get at."
Rather like Boxing Day’s clash at Stoke City, Monday night’s
contest was played in awful conditions as rain continually swept across the
pitch in a harsh wind.
Several balls over the top skidded behind for goal kicks but
Ampadu was keen to not use the weather as an excuse.
“That's football,” said the Whites skipper, asked about
conditions being no help.
“We've had a few games this year where conditions have been
like that, maybe the goal kicks go a little bit longer than normal so you've
got to deal with it.
"But the weather is what it is, you can't change it so
you just have to get on with it."