So Sad To Say Goodbye: Leeds United Has Allow Patrick Bamford To Go………………….read more.
Patrick Bamford listens attentively, considers the point, but then shakes his head. “I think my injuries have just been unfortunate,” he says. “I don’t believe it was too intense under Marcelo Bielsa.”
There is a belief that Leeds United’s former manager pushed the team’s star striker too hard, but Bamford disagrees. “There were moments when it was tough under Marcelo,” the 30-year-old admits as he works to recover from a minor knee injury in time for Sunday’s Championship playoff final against Southampton. “But, honestly, those were probably the best three and a half years I’ve had in football.”
Reflecting on his injury struggles, Bamford admits that trying to return too soon made things worse. “My issues partly stemmed from pushing myself too hard to help the team. I came back too early, suffered setbacks, and it became a vicious cycle. It was a tough couple of years.”
Three years ago, Bamford scored 17 goals in 38 Premier League games and even earned an England cap. But two injury-ridden seasons followed, and a Leeds team missing a key forward, both offensively and defensively, struggled. Despite changes in management, with Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia, and Sam Allardyce all stepping in for Bielsa, the club was relegated to the Championship last spring.
Daniel Farke’s arrival has since shifted the mood, with Bamford scoring nine goals in 19 matches before suffering a patella injury in a 4-3 win over Middlesbrough. Despite this, Leeds narrowly missed out on automatic promotion.
As Bamford speaks from the club’s peaceful training ground near Wetherby, he reflects on the frustration of finishing behind Leicester and Ipswich despite accumulating 90 points. “Fortunately, Daniel Farke is a calm and experienced manager,” he says. “He helped us regroup, and now I hope Wembley will be a fantastic experience. I believe the Premier League is better with Leeds in it.”
Although Joël Piroe performed well as a striker in the playoff semi-final against Norwich, Bamford’s off-the-ball movement is difficult to replicate.
“Playing for Nottingham Forest Under-18s, I remember the academy manager saying, ‘Focus on your movement, getting in behind,’” recalls Bamford, who has also played for Chelsea and Middlesbrough. “That advice stuck, and I learned a lot from watching Edinson Cavani at Napoli.
“But Bielsa really helped me improve my pressing from the front. In training, it was all about how quickly you could change tempo and go from zero to max speed. Being tall, it’s harder, but without Marcelo’s push, I probably wouldn’t have worked on it.”
He acknowledges that some still underestimate his speed. “People think I’m slow because my running style looks bad, but I’m quicker than I seem. Over 30-40 meters, not many defenders will beat me.”
Despite some Leeds fans not fully appreciating his contributions, and a low point when a group showed up at his home to criticize him for a missed penalty, Bamford remains positive. “It got to me when it involved my family,” he says. “But I’ve been here six years, and I’m still enjoying it. Most of the fans are fantastic, and I hope to show them my best form in the Premier League next season.”
