Ruts are hard to get out of and after an opening six games from hell last season, Leeds United captain Liam Cooper is clear on the lessons the side has taken from that. Fresh from a ninth-place finish in their first top-flight campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, the Whites suffered the rudest of awakenings.
The leaders in the squad had warned through last summer about how much harder the second season would be. A second consecutive Old Trafford hiding did not set too many alarm bells ringing, but draws with Everton, Burnley and Newcastle United were made to look too much like hard work.
Even when the first win came, against a Watford side who then sacked their head coach, it was followed by one of the worst performances seen in the Bielsa era at Southampton. The campaign never got going, as the final-day scrap for 17th proved, and Cooper is clear on the change they have to make for 2022/23.
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“We have to start better, 100 per cent,” he said. “I don’t think there was ever a time last season we got going and we felt we got going.
“We never reached the heights we know we’re capable of and then you just get stuck in a rut. We were stuck in a rut from very early on last season and it was difficult to flick the switch.
“You can’t do that. That comes with momentum and winning games and we never quite managed to strike that.
“By the time you know it, you’re in a relegation battle and your backs are against the wall. Being in that, you can learn a lot about yourself and the lads did.”
After two defeats under Jesse Marsch after his appointment, Leeds dug out a five-match unbeaten streak which would ultimately deliver the points to keep them up. While their performances were not perfect, Cooper takes motivation from what the team dug out.
“We showed up when it mattered,” he said. “The period of time just after Jesse came in, when we managed to go on that little winning run, was massive for us.
“Getting those points allowed us to go into the back-to-back three games against the top four, [though] we wanted to pick points up, that relief of not being down if we didn’t.
“You’ve got to take a lot from that little run we went on.”
Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen and Marc Roca are the new senior faces already in the building and there are high hopes Leeds will add two more before the end of the week. None of the new signings, including those expected to be next, have Premier League experience.
However, aided by last term’s horrible opening, Cooper is confident the squad can guide the new players through choppy waters. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Southampton, Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Everton provide opportunities for early momentum from next month.
“We’ve got to pass those experiences onto the boys coming in,” he said. “They’ve never really played in the Premier League and they all come here because it’s the best league in the world.
“These boys are coming in, they’ve played for their countries so they’re already playing at a high level, Champions League football. We’ve got to share those experiences and drag people with us as well.
“The start is massive. You’ve got to get off to a good start, you’ve got to get your points on the board early doors and we’ll be looking to do that.
“We’re confident in the way we play and what we want to do. The hard work starts now. It’s going to be tough, it’s never easy, but it all puts you in a good frame of mind knowing you’re fit going into the first game.”
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