Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu has praised his team-mates for showing the key characteristic he believes is “required” to play for the club.
Ethan Ampadu scored his first Premier League goal in Leeds’ 4-1 demolition of Crystal Palace as he showed his poacher’s instinct to poke home his side’s third goal.
The Wales international has become one of the most important players in the Leeds squad under Daniel Farke, and has not looked out of place in the Premier League this season.
Ampadu produced a captain’s display in the statement victory against Crystal Palace, as he dominated the midfield, and helped to limit the impact of Palace’s creative pivot, Adam Wharton.
Now, the Leeds captain has praised his team-mates for the way they have turned around Leeds’ Premier League season, as the Palace game saw his side open up a six-point cushion on the bottom three.
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Ethan Ampadu praises Leeds United’s resilience after difficult run
Speaking to LUTV after the game, the Leeds captain was quick to highlight his side’s team spirit as they produced an impressive display under the lights at Elland Road.
According to Ampadu, possessing a fighting spirit is a requirement at Leeds, and his team-mates have shown that in abundance following a difficult run of results in the autumn.
Ampadu said: “It was important for us to keep building momentum, and that’s been our message probably ever since we had those difficult results.
“I think there were like four, three or four in a row where we lost, and everything looked like it was going to be difficult.
“The togetherness we showed to get back and show the character, the fighting spirit that is required to play for Leeds United.
“And like I said, to keep building momentum, it’s been a joy at the minute.”
- READ MORE: Dominic Calvert-Lewin stole the headlines but ‘world-class’ man was Leeds United’s unsung hero
Ethan Ampadu was majestic vs Palace. Does he deserve more recognition at Leeds? Let us know in the comments
Ethan Ampadu secures 10-year first for Leeds United
Although Ampadu has scored for Leeds before, with his two goals coming in an FA Cup win against Peterborough, he is unlikely to match Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s goalscoring run any time soon.
According to Opta’s Jonny Cooper, posting on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), Ampadu ended a 10-year curse which has haunted Leeds’ number fours.
Ampadu’s second-half goal was the first Leeds goal by a player wearing the number four shirt since February 2015.
Rudy Austin was the player who scored on that occasion, as he scored a stunning volley in a 3-2 Championship defeat under caretaker manager Neil Redfearn.
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