Patrick Bamford had a morning to forget for Leeds United today.
Marcelo Bielsa has reacted to Patrick Bamford’s performance for Leeds United today.
The Whites rounded off their tour of Australia with a 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Mateusz Bogusz opened the scoring for the visitors, before a wonderful solo effort from Pablo Hernandez spared United’s blushes in the final moments.
It should never have been that dramatic – and wouldn’t have been had misfiring Bamford scored some of the chances that fell his way.
The 25-year-old missed one particularly gilt-edged opportunity in the second half when he couldn’t convert Jack Harrison’s teasing cross from five yards out.
It’s been a difficult pre-season for the former Middlesbrough star so far, and Bielsa believes it’s important for his confidence that he finds the net sooner or later.
“For a striker it is very important they create chances. At the same time, for his confidence it is important he finally finishes these chances and scores,” he told Leeds Live.
“One of the first steps for a forward is it is important he creates a chance and makes steps in his performance in the pre-season and finally he scores goals.”
Bamford didn’t have a successful end to last season and it’s possible that his current form is a knock-on effect of everything that went on in the final weeks of the campaign.
In addition to not scoring, the Leeds striker was also hit with a two-game ban for his theatrics against Aston Villa and wound up missing the first leg of the playoff semi-final defeat by Derby County.
The Elland Road side face Cagliari in their final pre-season friendly next Saturday, before then gearing up to face Bristol City at Ashton Gate in their Championship opener on August 4.
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