Leeds United’s sensational comeback against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is one that will live long in the memories of supporters, and in particular those who made the trip down from West Yorkshire.
The stars just aligned for Leeds last night, with Cole Palmer’s crucial miss in stoppage time still looking like an inevitable goal each and every time you see a replay of it.
The fact that Leeds were able to escape West London with a point, with the likes of Pascal Struijk, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Anton Stach all being out, suggests the 49ers have assembled a squad, and not just a starting XI, that is capable of competing at a Premier League level.
During the game, Graham Smyth pointed out an interesting off-camera moment regarding one of Leeds’ players during the dramatic Chelsea clash that will amuse Leeds supporters.
Ethan Ampadu and Joao Pedro involved in off-camera moment at Stamford Bridge
Lukas Nmecha was among those players who were handed a rare start against Chelsea, with the German netting his sixth Premier League goal of the season when he converted from the spot.
Ampadu, however, continued to prove to be an ever-present in United’s midfield, with Smyth revealing that the Leeds captain got caught up in an off-camera moment with Chelsea striker Joao Pedro.
Writing for the Evening Post, Smyth revealed what exactly happened: “Joao Pedro calling Liam Rosenior over to ask for some last-minute tactical clarity before kick-off.
“The Chelsea attacker was then pleading for the officials to help him out as Ethan Ampadu wrapped him up in a bear hug and stopped him from pressing as Leeds kicked off. No help was forthcoming.”
Pedro was a player who infuriated the travelling Leeds supporters on Tuesday night, with the Brazilian getting himself on the scoresheet as well as trying to make himself a nuisance every time he could by standing in Karl Darlow’s eyeline whilst the Welshman would attempt to set up his wall when defending a Chelsea free-kick.
Data suggests Ethan Ampadu wasn’t at his best against Chelsea
Like most of the Whites’ side at Stamford Bridge, Ampadu was not at his best during the game, with the midfielder struggling to impose himself during the game as normal.
Whether that was due to the quick turnaround, Daniel Farke’s defensive setup inviting more pressure, or simply coming up against quality opposition, Ampadu’s presence was noticeably less during the game, and the stats reflect this.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Defensive contributions | 4 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Clearances | 1 |
| Recoveries | 1 |
| Duels (won) | 3 (1) |
Deep down, Leeds will know they got away with one against Chelsea, and Ampadu and the rest of his teammates will need to be back to their best if the Whites have any chance of getting anything from their next couple of Premier League fixtures against Aston Villa and Manchester City.
Villa and City? 6 easy points!