Daniel Farke’s Leeds United team have surprised many in the Premier League this season and now look good to survive in the top flight this season.
Leeds were billed as one of the sides to go down this season following their promotion. Farke’s previous record at Norwich City was used as a stick to beat him and the Whites.
However, Leeds have managed to build an eight-point gap between them and the teams in the relegation zone, and Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker have already done a dramatic U-turn on their prediction for Farke’s men this season.
Micah Richards has been an unapologetic fan of Leeds, and the former Manchester City defender has picked out one player who makes the Whites team tick with his presence in the middle of the park.
Ethan Ampadu earns the praise of Micah Richards, and Gary Lineker agrees
On this week’s Rest is Football podcast, the panel were discussing their early-season predictions and Shearer and Lineker agreed that the Whites are more than likely to survive now.
While Leeds were being discussed, Richards butted in and picked out club captain Ethan Ampadu for special praise and stressed his importance to the team.
He pointed out that the Welshman has come a long way from his time at Chelsea and is now a much more mature footballer who makes the Leeds team tick with his presence in the midfield.
The former defender admitted that he loves watching Ampadu play and feels Farke has done a great job to get the best out of him.
Richards said, “Ethan Ampadu, what a player he is, the conductor in midfield.
“Remember him at Chelsea all those years ago, when he was sort of centre half/ centre mid, but now he’s so mature, when he plays, they’re a different team.
“I absolutely love watching him, and the manager’s done a brilliant job.”
Lineker added, “I think we can all agree they would avoid relegation.”
Ampadu is Farke’s lieutenant on the pitch
Daniel Farke’s dependence on Ampadu is clear from the fact that he has often rushed the Leeds captain back from injury layoffs to have him in his team.
For other players, the manager often chooses to ease them back into the team following an injury absence. However, Ampadu gets straight back into the team once he is fit.
The Leeds boss cannot imagine a team without the Welshman and is probably the first name on his team sheet.
| Defensive metric (per 90) | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Tackles | 2.49 | 80 |
| Interceptions | 1.47 | 88 |
| Blocks | 1.42 | 76 |
| Clearances | 2.66 | 92 |
| Aerials won | 1.30 | 73 |
Ampadu has also repaid the faith with consistent performances and has been the leader of the team on and off the pitch. The midfielder is the heartbeat of the team.
He is finally getting his due as a top player because of his performances in the Premier League, and everyone is now seeing what Leeds fans have been witnessing since 2023.
