Recapturing the highs of Marcelo Bielsa’s first Premier League season remains the Leeds United dressing room’s aim next term. The majority of the current squad are survivors of the ninth-placed finish under the Argentine in 2021.
The likes of Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison and Patrick Bamford all have the muscle memory of that first campaign back in the big time. Captain Liam Cooper too, who has opened up on how confident the group feels about bouncing back from last season.
The skipper admitted confidence accrued in that memorable first season back was naturally knocked through last year’s experiences. Cooper feels the top half has to be the minimum aim and he sees enough in the dressing room to achieve it.
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“Going off our first season, last season was a struggle, it was difficult, but in our first season back we finished ninth,” he said. “We’ve definitely got to aim for the top half.
“I definitely think, as a group, we’re capable of that and then push on from there. We set very high expectations of ourselves, we believe in ourselves and we’ve got to get that belief back.
“It took a knock at times last season. You always question yourself, first and foremost, and it was difficult, it was a stressful season, but that’s gone now. We’ve got to be optimistic and we’ve got to aim as high as we can.”
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