How Leeds United are righting the wrongs of last season in the dressing room

Ruts are hard to get out of and after an opening six games from hell last season, Leeds United captain Liam Cooper is clear on the lessons the side has taken from that. Fresh from a ninth-place finish in their first top-flight campaign under Marcelo Bielsa, the Whites suffered the rudest of awakenings.

The leaders in the squad had warned through last summer about how much harder the second season would be. A second consecutive Old Trafford hiding did not set too many alarm bells ringing, but draws with Everton, Burnley and Newcastle United were made to look too much like hard work.

Even when the first win came, against a Watford side who then sacked their head coach, it was followed by one of the worst performances seen in the Bielsa era at Southampton. The campaign never got going, as the final-day scrap for 17th proved, and Cooper is clear on the change they have to make for 2022/23.

“We have to start better, 100 per cent,” he said. “I don’t think there was ever a time last season we got going and we felt we got going.

“We never reached the heights we know we’re capable of and then you just get stuck in a rut. We were stuck in a rut from very early on last season and it was difficult to flick the switch.

“You can’t do that. That comes with momentum and winning games and we never quite managed to strike that.

“By the time you know it, you’re in a relegation battle and your backs are against the wall. Being in that, you can learn a lot about yourself and the lads did.”

After two defeats under Jesse Marsch after his appointment, Leeds dug out a five-match unbeaten streak which would ultimately deliver the points to keep them up. While their performances were not perfect, Cooper takes motivation from what the team dug out.