Rasmus Kristensen explained how the pitch conditions and commitment of both Leeds United and Crystal Palace turned the game into a ‘fight’ following Friday’s 1-1 draw at the Optus Stadium. Rodrigo’s second-half penalty was cancelled out by Jean Phillipe Mateta in a feisty affair Down Under.
Both sides received several bookings - including Jesse Marsch - and were guilty of some ill-judged challenges as the turf in the all-purpose, multi-sport stadium struggled to hold up. New signing Luis Sinisterra started but came off after 11 minutes with a hamstring injury, while Adam Forshaw was brought off on the half hour mark after suffering a number of clumsy tackles.
Kristensen was one of only four players who played the full 90 minutes - alongside Illan Meslier, Diego Llorente and Jack Harrison - and the Danish warrior put a few tough tackles in of his own on Palace’s attack. And he admitted after the game that it ‘ended up being a fight.’
Both teams wanted to win and the pitch also gave conditions for a fight.” He said. “It’s not easy to play as it was really bumpy and heavy you’re a little bit late or your pass is not completely to your feet. So it ended up being a fight and I think it was an even game.”
The 25-year-old is one of three summer signings to have played under Whites boss Marsch before, alongside Brenden Aaronson and Tyler Adams at RB Salzburg and RB Leipzig respectively. And he explained how the American coach was one of the reasons for his arrival at Elland Road this summer but stressed the main thing to convince him was the ‘big potential’ of the club.
“Of course a lot in terms of I know the kind of football he likes to play,” He said when asked about Marsch’s influence. “I see myself in that kind of football. But I just fell in love with the club and the project around the club and I think it has big, big potential so that was the main reason but of course Jesse was also an impact.”
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