Eni Aluko has named the four Leeds United players who really impressed her when the Whites took on Chelsea in the FA Cup on Wednesday night.
Leeds missed out on securing a place in the last eight of the competition, with Conor Gallagher scoring a last-gasp winner for Mauricio Pochettino’s side. However, Daniel Farke’s men can take so much belief from their performance at Stamford Bridge.
Leeds scored the opening goal. And Mateo Joseph doubled his account for the first-team with the equaliser to make it 2-2 during the second-half.
Eni Aluko lauds Leeds after Chelsea defeat
And it seems that many expected Leeds to actually go on and add to Pochettino’s woes by setting up an all-Championship quarter-final against Leicester City.
Speaking on ITV after the game (broadcast on 28/2; 21:39), Eni Aluko suggested that a Leeds winner looked to be on the cards during the second-half, before the pundit then picked out the four players in the visitors’ squad who stood out.
“I thought Gray was outstanding tonight. Ampadu was brilliant. Summerville came on, Gnonto came on. We said it felt as if they were going to score [the winner]. Amazing fan base and they are on a great run in the league as well,” she said.
A statement of a performance
In many ways, it was a brilliant evening when you look at the bigger picture. Of course, it would have been fantastic to secure the win and continue the momentum.
But the manner of the performance arguably means that the momentum remains anyway. Leeds pushed Chelsea all the way. And the Blues went with a very strong lineup for the tie.
When Marcelo Bielsa led the team to the title, Leeds were knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal. But anyone who watched that tie will remember how brilliant the Whites were, particularly in the first-half.
This has a similar feel. Leeds’ defeat will have been disappointing. But Farke’s side can take so much confidence from how the tie played out.
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