Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand has been discussing Leeds United’s win against Chelsea on Sunday.
The Whites scored an upset victory against their arch-rivals Chelsea at the weekend, and while a number of Leeds’ players put in fantastic performances, Ferdinand partially attributed this result to the fans.
Indeed, Ferdinand knows the Leeds supporters well having played for the club in the early 2000s, and he says that Elland Road is one of the hardest places to play, especially when you go 1-0 down.
What’s been said?
Ferdinand discussed Leeds fans and the Elland Road atmosphere.
“Leeds yeah, that place when it’s bouncing is a hard place to play, I played there as a home and an away player and it was always like ‘woah’. Going in as an away player, if you’re not on it and you go a goal down it’s a hard place to turn things around. Chelsea got off on the wrong foot with the mistake from Mendy. Leeds, a lot of people expected Leeds to go down this season, but they’re doing alright,” Ferdinand said.
The 12th (and 13th) man
It’s often said that the fans can be the 12th man for their team when they rally behind the squad, but Leeds’ fans are so loud that they’re almost a 12th and 13th man.
Heading into a rivalry match like the game against Chelsea at the weekend, Leeds fans were well behind their team, especially after their bright start to the season, and at 1-0 the atmosphere was just too much.
Just imagine the adrenaline the Leeds players must’ve felt when every tackle, pass and near miss was being roared on by one of the most passionate fanbases in the world. They were never going to lose inside that stadium on that day.
Leeds were brilliant against Chelsea, and so were their fans.
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