Luke Ayling has told Soccer AM (10/10/20 at 11:45 am) how Pablo Hernandez and Rodrigo react when he tells them that he has played Champions League football.
The 29-year-old was an unused substitute for Arsenal during his younger days in the Champions League and the Leeds defender shares how he gets a look of ‘you’re a wally’ and ‘go away’ when he speaks of it.
Both Hernandez and Rodrigo have played in the Champions League for Valencia and they will be dreaming of taking Leeds their one day.
But Ayling hilarious shares his brief time sat on the bench for a Champions League game and how he tells others he has played in that competition when they talk about it.
“Well, it’s really loosely done,” Ayling told Soccer AM. “I sat on the bench for 90 minutes and I did do a wicked warm-up that day. I was really good in the warm-up.
“With all the boys coming now, all the new lads, such as Pablo [Hernandez] and there’s Rodrigo and that. So any time they talk [about Champions League football]. I go ‘oh, I also have played Champions League football. But that was like 11 years ago. I don’t really talk about it any more. I did it when it used to be good and a real thing’.
“Then they just look at me like ‘oh, you are a wally mate. Go away’. Them good all days!”
Leeds United’s record transfers
- Rodrigo (2020)
£26 million
- Raphinha
£21 million (2020)
- Rio Ferdinand (2000)
£18 million
- Diego Llorente (2020)
£18 million
- Helder Costa (2020)
£16 million
The ultimate dream for Leeds fans would be to relive those glory days of the Champions League again, but they will be well aware they are some way off that.
At this current stage, they will just be enjoying the fact that their Godfather-like figure in the dugout has guided them back to the big time.
If anyone can continue to achieve the unthinkable with Leeds then it’s Marcelo Bielsa.
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