Ethan Ampadu’s ‘halfway’ message to Leeds United as die-hards play vital role

There will be 35,000 Leeds United fans at Wembley Stadium next Sunday when Ethan Ampadu takes charge of the Whites. It will sound like a lot more.

The Whites’ on-field skipper may only be 23, but he has plenty of experience under his belt. And the Wales international is under no illusions about how important those fans will be if they are to earn their place in the Premier League next season.

The noise at Elland Road on Thursday night as Leeds booked their place in Sunday’s show was incredible. Ampadu, a veteran of Welsh internationals and key Premier League battles with Chelsea, was blown away by the atmosphere and thanked the fans for their support.

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But he knows the job is only half done. Leeds must beat Southampton at Wembley on Sunday to return to the top flight at the first time of asking, but the defender is confident of the support of the Whites faithful behind them.

“We have achieved our goal of reaching the play-off final and we know we are only halfway through this end-of-season competition and we still have a final to play against a team that will make it very difficult,” he said before. critical game this weekend “For sure, we’ll enjoy that feeling with the fans and then we’ll get ready for Wembley. The fans were massive. Before the game, I don’t want to say we were expecting it because we know how the fans can be when they’re behind us, but we were looking forward to it because we knew they were going to give us a massive boost.

“I think that showed in our performance. We started on the front foot and they started on the front foot. The atmosphere was amazing. It might be a bit of a cliché, but they were behind us and we really felt it, so maybe that was an extra help. We are grateful for that and now I can have a good night.”

While Leeds’ attacking performance caught the eye, Ampadu was delighted to keep a second successive clean sheet, even if goalkeeper Illan Meslier had to clear him after a rare slip allowed Norwich’s Josh Sargent the only game chance.

“I think everybody was shooting,” he added. “We were on the front foot, the front four seemed to play with pleasure and freedom. When they are clinical and on it, they are suitable for anyone. They make it difficult for many opponents. They probably make our job a little easier, so we’re grateful!

“For us defenders, we get the free sheet, it’s huge. Thanks to Illan in the first half for pulling me out of a hole too!”