Daniel Farke has guided Leeds United to the best possible start this season.
Fans, media and pundits were not very high on Leeds challenging for promotion this year after losing key players this summer. Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United were tipped to be favorites, and were expected to bounce back to the Premier League.
Losing Summerville and Rutter, who combined for 40+ goals last year wasn’t enough, Daniel Farke also lost one of the best midfielders in the league last year. Archie Gray won Leeds’ Young Player of the Year award and was named in the EFL Championship team of the year.
Leeds United somehow managed to start this season well despite losing all that firepower and creativity. The Whites have the second best attack in the league, and sit in third place, just two points behind the league leaders.
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Leeds United star man responds to critics
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Part of the reason Leeds have had a great attack this season has been the return of Brenden Aaronson. The attacking midfielder struggled to find his feet in the Premier League for Leeds, but after returning to the club from his loan last season, he is really showing promise.
Many fans have criticized the American for not contributing enough to the attack and have labeled him as “just a runner”.
The 24-year old has taken offense to this, and has come out to say he is more than that as an attacker:
“It’s definitely upsetting,” Aaronson said to GOAL, “because I think, in moments, I show a lot of quality with the ball. I don’t think a lot of people see that. People see my energy and that type of thing, and that’s easy to see. You’ll always see me giving 100 percent. That’s something that I’ve always had. That was the first thing I learned from my dad at a young age.”
“I want to be outside of that box,” he adds. “I’m not just a runner. I’m not just a guy that’s pressing all the time. I’ll show that, of course, but I think I’m also more than that, you know? I think I’m a guy that brings other things to the pitch and, yeah, I just wish people could see that more.”
Aaronson has been key to this season
Despite all the noise, Aaronson has had a good season so far. He scored four goals this season, the second top scorer at the club. He also has an assist and has created four big chances this season, one of the highest tallies in the league. Daniel Farke has also said he is pleased with how the midfielder has played this season.
