Former Leeds United star told to ‘retire’ after ‘horrific’ performance in Championship derby defeat

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Monday night saw Leeds United’s top six rivals Middlesbrough and Sunderland go head-to-head at the Riverside. The latter came out on top.

Sunderland came from behind to beat north-east rivals Middlesbrough 3-2 in the Championship on Monday night.

The Black Cats were inspired by January signing Enzo Le Fee down the left side. The Frenchman, on loan from Roma, had a field day against former Leeds United man Luke Ayling.

Clips have been shared on social media of Ayling being nutmegged and simply outpaced by Le Fee, who’s not really known for his pace either.

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Middlesbrough fans tell Luke Ayling it’s time to retire

After the defeat, Middlesbrough fans had plenty to say about the 33-year-old right-back, who won promotion with Leeds United in 2020 under Marcelo Bielsa.

Fans described his performance as “horrific” and one said that his “legs are gone”, which seemed to be a common theme among many Boro fans on X. “It’s time to retire”, said another.

One lengthier comment read: “Ayling was horrendously exposed. Looked like time and caught him up and then passed him in a flash.”

And a similar post read: “Ayling is getting tore apart week after week.” Others meanwhile described Ayling as “League One quality”, as one fan even stated: “I don’t think I can go back to a game if Luke Ayling is playing.”

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Daniel Farke’s Luke Ayling comments sum it up

Earlier in the season, Daniel Farke gave his verdict on Ayling and said that he’d have loved to have coached him when he was a few years younger.

Farke said: “What Luke did for this club in the last decade is unbelievable. I have spoken so often about Luke, what I think about him and how much I would loved to have him three, four, five years earlier.”

And for Ayling, Farke’s comments may sum up what a lot of Boro fans feel right now. Whilst a good player in the past, he did get exposed on Monday night, and maybe this season will be his last playing at this level.

Though at 33 years old he could still play for many more years to come. At Championship level though, perhaps not.