'I can’t wait to come back from the national team and get going because I want to win' - Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich already has sights on Arsenal

Mateusz Klich has three international games and just under two weeks to wait but has already set his sights on Arsenal.
LONG WAIT - Mateusz Klich and Leeds United have a two-week break from Premier League action before they can put their 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace behind them with another win. Arsenal are up next. Pic: GettyLONG WAIT - Mateusz Klich and Leeds United have a two-week break from Premier League action before they can put their 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace behind them with another win. Arsenal are up next. Pic: Getty
LONG WAIT - Mateusz Klich and Leeds United have a two-week break from Premier League action before they can put their 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace behind them with another win. Arsenal are up next. Pic: Getty

The Leeds United midfielder says he cannot wait to return to Premier League action to try and replace his post-defeat disappointment with the euphoria of victory.

A trip to the capital rarely ends well for the Whites and Saturday’s visit to Crystal Palace was no exception.

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A second 4-1 defeat in a week, complete with a controversially disallowed Patrick Bamford goal, left Leeds deflated before the November international break and a fortnight’s pause in Premier League action.

Reflecting on how life in the top flight has gone for the Whites so far, Klich revealed his belief that their early success and wins over Fulham, Sheffield United and Aston Villa had led some to let their imaginations run wild.

But the squad did not get ahead of themselves, before losing 4-1 twice in the space of a week, he says.

“We have 10 points so far,” Klich said.

“Our goal is to stay in the league. I know there are a lot of people who got carried away after a couple of games.

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“They thought we were going to challenge for the Champions League but our goal is to only stay in the league.

“We try to play our style and we play good football but we need more points.”

To Klich, the Leicester City defeat felt different to the Palace loss, despite the repeat scoreline. It was an afternoon full of frustration. Palace took the lead through a Scott Dann header from a corner, before Klich set up Bamford for a lovely finish, only to have VAR chalk it off for offside. The striker's shoulder was deemed beyond the last defender, as he pointed to where Klich should play the ball.

Palace went 2-0 up through Eberechi Eze's wonderful free-kick, with Klich off the pitch having received treatment after stretching for a ball and going to ground in agony, before the Pole again fed Bamford to pull a goal back.

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The hosts regained their two-goal cushion with a wicked deflection, then with Leeds chasing the game grabbed a fourth on the counter attack.

“It’s not nice to lose a game, especially 4-1,” he said.

“Last week we lost against Leicester and they were the better side but [against Palace] I think we played alright.

“We lost to two set-pieces and one deflection – the fourth goal they deserved of course.

“What can I say? I feel bad when we lose a game.”

Leeds won’t get the chance to try and bounce back straight away and even when they do, it won’t be an easy task. They next play on November 22 against Arsenal before taking on Everton and Chelsea.

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Klich, who has departed Yorkshire to join up with the Poland squad for games against Ukraine, Italy and Holland, is already champing at the bit to return and get Leeds back on track. He says belief will be key, no matter the identity of the opponent.

“We have no choice, we have to [believe],” Klich said.

“There are no easy games. As you can see, we drew against Manchester City and then we lost against Crystal Palace.

“It’s a difficult league. Everyone can win against everyone. We’re going to fight for points, it doesn’t matter who we are playing.

“I can’t wait to come back from the national team and get going because I want to win.”

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