Latest news with #EthanAmpadu
New York Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Leeds take heart as last season's core show they belong at Premier League level
If there was one moment which neatly summed up Monday's curtain-raiser at Elland Road, it was the demolition job to which Ethan Ampadu subjected Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the first half. Facing his own goal, Dewsbury-Hall had dropped in to collect the ball from his defence, but Ampadu tracked him all the way and did not hesitate in launching into a fierce challenge. Everton's £24million ($32.4m) new signing was left in a crumpled heap, clutching his ankle and grimacing on the edge of his own area as Leeds United's captain calmly walked away without a second glance. Advertisement The flashpoint showed how high Leeds were pressing, with United's holding midfielder 20 yards from the Everton goal. It showed the physical, aggressive approach the hosts were taking in their return to the top flight. It also showed just how meek and out-matched Everton were, too; a team caught in the headlights of this West Yorkshire juggernaut. Ampadu was the embodiment of what Leeds wanted to be in this first test. After three months of waiting and talking about their survival prospects, this was an opportunity to burn away that nervous energy, on and off the field. Daniel Farke's side knew their assignment and provided the supporters with the rocket fuel required to light up the final chapter of the Premier League's opening weekend. Every tackle, turnover, pressure, victorious duel, dribble and away error was roared on in an evening which could only reassure the Leeds faithful. There were, and remain, a lot of unknowns coming back into the Premier League for Leeds. Eight new signings are all well and good, but how will they cope? A century of Championship points were great, but can 2024-25's bunch cut the mustard now? Ampadu is one of the many Leeds players considered too good for the Championship, but still carrying top-flight question marks. Proving the doubters wrong would have been one of his many motivations on Monday night and it showed in his performance. Ironically, for all of the clamour for new signings, which will continue until September 1, eight of Farke's 10 outfield selections against Everton had a hand in last season's title. Not only did Leeds outclass the visitors at Elland Road, but they did so, in the main, with last term's core. If it was a reassuring night for the supporters in the stands, it was a shot in the arm for those who have carried over from the Championship. The confidence Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk, Ao Tanaka, Ampadu, Daniel James, Wilfried Gnonto and Joel Piroe can take from this is priceless. Advertisement Yes, Everton were surprisingly limited and disjointed, but Leeds could only play what was in front of them and they dominated the visitors, particularly in the first half. None of this guarantees survival, but it gets the monkey off the team's back at the first time of asking and a lot of internal nerves can now be put at ease. Last season, the three promoted clubs had to wait until October 5 (Leicester City), November 2 (Southampton) and November 10 (Ipswich Town) for their first league wins. Like Sunderland, Leeds are already up and running this time round and feeling, tentatively, like they can belong in this company. This wasn't a passive, deep-lying, defensive, long-ball, set-piece-focused victory, either. Leeds properly went toe to toe with an aggressive press and progressive passing display that again tells these players they can look to dominate some opponents. Bogle, on a welcome return from injury, made an instant impact with his raids down the right flank and interventions in defence, keeping his former Sheffield United team-mate Iliman Ndiaye quiet. Rodon and Struijk picked up where they left off in the second tier, smothering Beto in the Everton front line. Ampadu proved to be a stand-out disruptor all evening, a calming presence in the middle of the park. In the minutes after Tim Iroegbunam's crunching foul on the captain, when his body briefly asked him to slow down, Leeds felt that diminished intensity. Tanaka, again, impressed with his relentless running, ball recoveries and interceptions. He underlined why Farke gave him the nod over Sean Longstaff, who may hope he gets a chance in a sterner test like Arsenal away on Saturday. James, Piroe and Gnonto were lively in their own way. Piroe had chances and spurned them, which, until Lukas Nmecha's late penalty, looked like it may be one of the post-match themes to pull at. For all of their possession and territory, Leeds should have tested Jordan Pickford more. That aspect definitely needs improvement, but that should come with reinforcements and more matches together as a unit. Anton Stach and Gabriel Gudmundsson, the two new faces outfield, were brilliant in their own right. Stach kicked on from his AC Milan masterclass in Dublin with more shots, more chances created and more distance covered than anyone else. The Germany international looks like he has the full package required to be a key difference-maker in the engine room for Leeds. Gudmundsson showcased the ball-carrying ability which stood out with Lille, with more successful dribbles than everyone else on show. Their link-up down the left channel, with Gnonto ahead, was a hugely productive outlet for Farke's side. There will be a new test for them and the others on Saturday at the home of a title challenger, and it will be intriguing to see how they fare. Leeds may be stronger at the Emirates. Winger Noah Okafor's transfer from Milan appears to be progressing. A full-back and No 10, with the potential for another striker, need to follow the Swiss into Thorp Arch. If they can improve on what is already being shown by the Championship old guard, Leeds really can start to feel optimistic about the campaign ahead. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ampadu reflects on Leeds' first win back in PL
Ethan Ampadu explains why Leeds United are "delighted" with their Matchweek 1 showing against Everton, breaking down the team's first game back in the Premier League after two seasons away.
NBC Sports
15 hours ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Ampadu reflects on Leeds' first win back in PL
Ethan Ampadu explains why Leeds United are "delighted" with their Matchweek 1 showing against Everton, breaking down the team's first game back in the Premier League after two seasons away.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'We are all going to fight to change that'
Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu believes the club can buck the trend and stay in the Premier League this secured automatic promotion last season from the Championship to the top flight and have made eight signings this summer focused on physicality and bringing height to the squad."We know what we are capable of achieving and we have confidence in that," Ampadu told BBC Radio Leeds."No-one is going to roll over and accept what has happened in the past couple of years of teams going up and going back down. We are all going to fight to change that."We have worked so hard in the pre-season to get our baseline and our standard. Every day we are improving to do more and be better."All the new additions that have been brought in are all very good players and very good people. That has helped the squad."All the players here have the most confidence in each other to perform every day in training, and every game to achieve what we want to achieve."Listen on BBC Sounds
Irish Daily Mirror
08-08-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Former Leeds captain sees two players as superstars and key to them staying up
Leeds United legend Mel Sterland reckons the Yorkshire club have spent neither conspicuously nor lavishly for their return to the Premier League. The former captain does not regard Anton Stach from Hoffenheim for €20m, Udinese centre-back Jaka Bijol for €18m, goalkeeper Lucas Perri from Lyon for €16m or Newcastle's Sean Longstaff for €13.8m as 'splashing out'. The club clearly had doubts about manager Daniel Farke towards the end of last season, amid fears the club would repeat the yo-yo-ing between Championship and Premier League that marked the coach's tenure at previous club Norwich City. But it seems the German has convinced them the lessons he has learned at the coal face with The Canaries will ensure that Leeds will not struggle straight away. In the last two seasons all three promoted clubs suffered immediate relegation. Leeds will be looking for goals from the likes of 26-year-old Dutch striker , who netted 19 league goals last term but has not yet been capped by his country. Sterland says of Piroe, who has reached the top flight after four goal-laden Championship seasons, two with Swansea (41 goals) and two with Leeds (32 goals): 'He's a good footballer, he knows where the goal is, he scores quite a number of different types of goals. Joel Piroe 'He doesn't just have great talent, he has got fantastic talent and, you know, sometimes when a player moves up that next level, they do show how good they are and I think he can do that in the Premiership. 'It's just a matter of no injuries and let's hope the team does well for him.' Sterland also believes Daniel James will put his struggles in the top flight with previous club Manchester United behind him for good. The 57-times capped Wales international (27), was Leeds star player last season. 'He's done very well here, he was the best player in the Championship by far. What we got from him was his quality, he created goals, he scored goals. 'Twelve was a good return from midfield and he can take that to the next level.' Just who surrounds James in midfield is a jig-saw puzzle. Ethan Ampadu, the 24-year-old son of Dubliner Kwame Ampadu, is another seeking Premiership rehabilitation, having failed to break through at previous club Chelsea. Wales' and Leeds star Ethan Ampadu (Image: ©INPHO/James Crombie) Japanese star Ao Tanaka (26) will be sampling top flight European football for the first time. Leeds are still hoping to re-sign Manor Solomon (26) from parent club Tottenham, as the Israeli's 10 Championship goals and 12 assists were key to the club's promotion. 'Ethan was absolutely quality last season and Leeds struggled a little bit when he didn't play because he's got a great relationship with the centre-halves,' says Sterland. 'He's a good player, can glide on the ball and he loves a tackle as well. 'When good footballers drop down to the Championship there are things you have to prove to yourself each week as much as everyone else. 'So if he thinks he is good enough for the Premiership then he will have something to prove and he can be top class there.' The same might apply to the American, Brenden Aaronson and Tanaka — who could end prove a real bargain buy, having cost just just €4m from Fortuna Dusseldorf in the summer of 2024. 'Ao is a great player, amazing for what they paid for him, stood out in the Championship as an absolute outstanding footballer,' says Sterland. 'He sees a pass, he gets into the box. Brenden has tremendous energy too, watch for him to make himself busy about the place.' Defensive midfielder Stach (26), has two Germany caps and has been noted as one of the Bundesliga's most effective players off the ball. The addition of Longstaff and the return of Jack Harrison from a two-season loan at Everton also brings Premier experience. 'Jack is another player who's got things to prove and we will see whether the fans take to him,' says Sterland, mindful that Leeds fans booed when his name was announced at a recent friendly against Manchester United in Sweden. 'He is a great player and, obviously, we've known this even if he has been on loan for a long time. 'He has two great feet, can come in and get crosses in. 'The fans didn't like him because he left (exercising a relegation-release clause) to go to Everton in 2023 but, to be fair, he was one of a number of players that did leave at the time. 'We all know what Leeds fans are like, they're very passionate, very, very strong-willed, but once he starts showing his ability I'm sure they'll take him back with open arms. 'He's played at that level in the Premiership so I don't think anything will be new to him,' Leeds had a notable consistency of selection across the defence last term. Centre-half Joe Rodon and right-back Jayden Bogle started 46 and 44 league games respectively, with left-back Junior Firpo and centre-half Pascal Struijk the other regulars. The arrival of centre-half and Slovenia regular Bijol following 90 Serie A games 2022-25 could see Leeds flip to five defenders at times or, given Rodon's outstanding form last season, put the pressure on Struijk. Firpo has left for Real Betis on a free transfer after his contract at Elland Road expired 'Joe is a significant Wales star and it just didn't work for him when went down to Tottenham so he's got a lot to prove if he wants to play the best league in the world,' added Sterland. 'Again, he was comfortable in the Championship and we are obviously going to find out more about him in the Premiership.' Leeds open their campaign with MNF at home to Everton (August 18th) and are away at Arsenal (August 23rd) and home to Newcastle (August 30th) 'It is a tricky enough start, David Moyes is a fantastic manager, he came back to Everton, they have just moved to a new stadium, and he did ever so well. 'They have just signed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea (for €29m) so they've got money to spend and I'd bet he's going to fetch another three or four players in.' Sterland is positive about Leeds' chances and is willing to back Farke's 'second take' at top flight football: 'I think Leeds will be fine, will stay up; Burnley and Sunderland will go down and I would put Wolves in that picture as well. 'I just think Daniel Farke is a great manager, how he trains, how he speaks to people. 'He respects every person, gives all the players a chance,. 'I'm so pleased that Leeds have stuck by him. 'Okay, with Norwich he got promotion and then, obviously, he got relegated and then he got promotion again with us so only time will tell. I'm confident he can keep Leeds United in the Premiership. 'Most of these players who win promotion to the Premier, have a lot to prove and I'm sure most of them will be excited while, specifically, Leeds' home games will get them out of jail because playing at Elland Road, the home fans are magnificent. 'I know for a fact they are excited for the first game of the season against Everton, it'll be an interesting one, a very, very interesting one. 'It's a big step, a massive step, the Premiership but I'm sure Leeds will fight very, very hard to stay there.'
