Leeds United are currently in Germany on a pre-season tour. On Tuesday, they played third division side SC Verl.
Leeds United kicked off their pre-season last weekend with a game against Manchester United in Sweden‘s capital, Stockholm. The game ended 0-0, but for Daniel Farke there were plenty of positives to take from the game, which saw all four new signings feature.
Since then, Anton Stach has joined from Hoffenheim in a deal that’s cost Leeds an initial £17m, though that fee could eventually rise closer to the £20m mark.
He didn’t feature in the game against SC Verl on Tuesday, but the players got the job done with a 4-1 win over the third tier side. Joel Piroe scored twice, as Wilfried Gnonto and Lukas Nmecha also got themselves on the scoresheet.
The game was one of two 60-minute halves. It was yet another run-out for the whole first-team, with Farke making sweeping changes to the teams.
Leeds United star Ethan Ampadu admits SC Verl goal was his fault
Ethan Ampadu played the second half of the game. The Leeds skipper impressed against Manchester United, looking comfortable in the midfield and generally marshalling the centre of the pitch against what was a strong Manchester United side on the day.
But speaking after the game against Verl, Ampadu admitted that their late goal in the 119th minute of the game was probably his fault. He explained: “They they made it difficult. We had to adapt. There were times where we wanted to keep the ball more and we didn’t, maybe disappointed to concede.
“Might be my fault. I told Chaz [Charlie Crew, whose back pass was intercepted by scorer Jonas Arweiler] to play it back to him, but the main thing of preseason is getting the fitness and it’s always nice to win.”
- READ MORE: Leeds United star condemned to summer exit following latest club announcement, it’s surely over
What role will Ethan Ampadu play for Leeds United next season?
Last season, Ampadu played a very versatile role under Farke. He played midfield and in defence, and even at full-back on a few occasions, pretty much filling in wherever there were injuries in the side.
His natural position is in midfield, but he looks just as comfortable at centre-back, though after Leeds United signed Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw at centre-back and Sean Longstaff and Stach in midfield, it really leaves many wondering where Ampadu will fit in next season.
There’s no doubt that he remains a key player for the club and a key leader on and off the pitch, but with added quality in the side, Ampadu might find himself battling for starting spots next season, or simply filling in wherever he is needed as he did in the second half of last season.
That said, if Pascal Struijk leaves Leeds United this summer, then Ampadu could find himself playing more defensively. On the other hand, if Ilia Gruev leaves Leeds United this summer, then Ampadu could find himself playing more in midfield.
Expect his role with the club to become clearer once the summer transfer window closes on September 1st.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
