Leeds United held an open training session at the Fremantle Oval on Wednesday as they continue their preparations for the start of the Premier League season. The Whites are in Perth for the third and final game of their pre-season tour of Australia against Crystal Palace at the Optus Stadium.
The session was watching by approximately 1,000 fans and Jesse Marsch certainly put his side to work with an intense training session in Western Australia. Leeds Live’s William Jackson was in Fremantle to watch training and a here’s a few of his observations.
Intensity dialled up
Leeds have held three open training sessions so far during their tour Down Under and Wednesday’s was by far the longest and most intense. The head coach put his players through a number of passing, shape and attacking drills and every one of them was carried out with pace and precision.
The Premier League season is now just two and a half weeks away and the American is keen to push his side to their limits and hammer home his energetic style. The session was all out in terms of contact, with tackles being thrown in and it was visibly challenging for some as they trained in the drizzle.
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Gray hope
Before joining his side on the Fremantle Oval turf, Marsch revealed his hope that Archie Gray would be fit enough to be involved on Friday night against Patrick Vieira’s Palace. The youngster had to be stretchered off on Sunday against Aston Villa after a hefty tackle from John McGinn looked to have caused an ankle injury.
However, he could be seen going through some individual fitness work during training and being put through his paces by one of Leeds’ coaches, while the rest of his teammates got to work under the watchful eye of Marsch. The Whites are training once more tomorrow before and Gray may well be fit enough to be involved.
Bamford looking sharp
Patrick Bamford’s workload continues to managed this summer following the injury-hit campaign he had last time around, but he looked sharp in Wednesday’s session after benefitting from an hour of game time against Aston Villa on Sunday. The striker looked to make things happen with the ball at his feet and he raised a cheer from the crowd when he slipped past Leif Davis with ease at one point.
He had a habit of being in the right position at the right time, too, finishing a move with a goal on a number of occasions. Luis Sinisterra carved out one of the most impressive goals of the afternoon, showing some neat footwork to find the space to find Jack Harrison, who in turn squared the ball to Bamford to finish.
The striker was also on hand to covert an excellent cross from overlapping full-back Pascal Struijk.
Kristensen’s passion
Kristensen has been one of Leeds’s best summer signings so far and it’s clear he takes training seriously. The right-back was extremely hard on himself when his throughball, intended for Bamford, went astray, hitting the ground in disgust, but he made up for it with a couple of pieces of sublime skill.
The right-back found Harrison with an inch perfect cross from deep, which the winger duly converted, and his cross-field passing ability was noted by the press pack watching on the sidelines.
Gyabi’s words of advice
Darko Gyabi has caught the eye in training since his move from Manchester City earlier in the summer and Marsch has been pleased with his progress so far. However, the head coach felt the need to urge him to use the ball quicker at one stage after he was caught on the ball by a defender.
Gyabi nodded and the next time he picked up possession, he found a pass with his first touch.
Extras
Following the completion of the session, a dozen or so attacking players took it upon themselves to head over to the goalmouth and practise their finishing. The likes of Sam Greenwood, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison and Dan James could be seen moving the ball out of their feet, rounding a mannequin and trying to beat Kristoffer Klaesson from a number of angles.
Brenden Aaronson was the last player on the field, though, showing his enthusiasm and drive to improve and settle into the Whites side, working on his finishing ability and skills.
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