Your Leeds United headlines for Friday, December 9.
Orta's bizarre trophy claim
Sporting director has revealed he will keep the Festa d’Elx trophy in his office after the Elche win. The silverware is contested for each year, with previous holders including Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Leeds have failed to win a major honour since clinching the First Division title in 1991-92. Earning promotion by winning the Championship two-and-a-half years ago is the closest buzz supporters have enjoyed since.
READ MORE: Ex-Leeds United star Kalvin Phillips makes tough Erling Haaland call amid Jude Bellingham decision
While awarding a cup for a friendly fixture is merely a token gesture, that will not stop Orta from displaying the piece with pride. “I want to beat them, I want to take the trophy,” he told Elche via a live-stream on the club’s YouTube channel. “I want to put it there in my office and for me it would be very exciting as closing a circle.”
World Cup windfall
Leeds will receive a welcome financial boost from FIFA ahead of the January transfer window. As the 2022 World Cup is currently in full swing, FIFA are to reward clubs for their help with releasing players for the competition.
A statement from FIFA read : "As part of its commitment to recognise the contribution that football clubs make to the successful staging of the FIFA World Cup, today FIFA started the application process for its Club Benefit Programme that will see $209million (£171.4million) distributed to clubs across the world. This initiative already saw 416 clubs from 63 member associations benefiting from the same amount following the 2018 FIFA World Cup."
To read the full story, click here.
Injury round-up after Elche win
Glandular fever stands between Illan Meslier and Leeds United’s clash with Manchester City later this month, though Jesse Marsch remains hopeful the squad’s injury issues will clear before that match. Crysencio Summerville and Sonny Perkins were the latest United players to limp off with issues in the win over Elche on Thursday night.
While Leeds were missing Rasmus Kristensen, Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson for their friendly because of the World Cup, Meslier, Robin Koch and Patrick Bamford were the other starters absent through illness and injury. Junior Firpo and Diego Llorente, both in Spain, were also missing from the match.
To read Marsch's post-match update, click here.
Phillips on Bielsa lesson
Kalvin Phillips believes his time working under Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road means he would be 'comfortable' if England changed formation for Saturday's World Cup quarter-final with France. England have operated solely with a back four during the tournament in Qatar so far, enabling the Three Lions to get more midfielders and attackers on the pitch.
He said: "When I played at Leeds, I played under a manager that changed formation all the time, every 15 minutes. I was quite used to changing formation and obviously I played in that deeper number four role.
"I did change positions quite a lot, I played centre half and stuff like that so I feel like if that happened during a game or if we needed to change formation I'd be very comfortable doing it."
To read more, click here.
Woodgate praised
Middlesbrough sporting director Kieran Scott has praised ex-Leeds United defender Jonathan Woodgate for providing 'perfect balance' to Michael Carrick. Woodgate made a surprise return to the Riverside Stadium when he was appointed first team coach by Carrick in October.
"One thing that he really brings is the Teesside blood, which I felt was missing. I felt the club needed that and there's no denying that element with Jonathan," Scott told Teesside Live.
"He's a very good coach, I'd seen him at Bournemouth and heard good things. The year we went up with Norwich, Bournemouth were on our tails so you naturally hear things. I saw him in work. They beat us 3-1 at Carrow Road that year at a time when nobody was beating us at Carrow Road."
To read more, click here.
READ NEXT:
- Dani van den Heuvel relives death-defying car crash, broken neck, Leeds United support to play again
- Ayling defuses angry outburst, Koch precaution, Gyabi prank on Leeds United day four in Spain
- 'Maybe with me' Wilfried Gnonto shares Crysencio Summerville-Leeds United happiness theory
- Leeds United still missing key ingredient in push to eradicate old Marcelo Bielsa habits
- Wilfried Gnonto opens up on Jesse Marsch's 'not ready' Leeds United comments and proving him wrong
