Leeds United defender Liam Cooper faces a huge game against Millwall next weekend.
For Liam Cooper, this weekend’s match for Leeds United against Millwall is bigger than most.
Cooper invited criticism months after Leeds’ away loss to Millwall last season by admitting the team never recovered from their defeat.
Leeds went into that game unbeaten and dreaming of promotion before succumbing to a 1-0 defeat.
One loss should not have derailed their season so dramatically, but Cooper insisted in an interview earlier this year that it did.
Cooper told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “We started so well and it hit us really hard. We were bitterly disappointed that was couldn’t turn around, bounce straight back and go on one of those runs again.”
The experience of last season should leave Leeds better prepared for whatever happens at the New Den this coming weekend.
Cooper was slated for his comments by fans who saw it as an admission of the team’s weak mentality, with the captain himself bearing the brunt.
Once again, Leeds head into the early September fixture at the New Den flying at the top of the league, this time under new manager Marcelo Bielsa.
Millwall beat Leeds home and away last season and will fancy their chances against Bielsa’s side.
Cooper and Leeds have a real point to prove, and if they do lose – what happens next will be even more crucial in defining their season.
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