Patrick Bamford reveals Premier League belief as he aims to repay Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United faith

Despite dissenting voices about his finishing in the Championship and previously unproductive spells in the Premier League, Patrick Bamford always had the self belief he would succeed.
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford. (PA)Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford. (PA)
Leeds United striker Patrick Bamford. (PA)

Patrick Bamford’s scintillating start to the season has been met with joy from head coach Marcelo Bielsa and fans alike at Elland Road.

Support for United’s number nine fluctuated in the Championship amid the promotion push last term.

For Bielsa the bigger picture was required.

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Bamford’s hard work and suitability for the role required leading United’s line was never in doubt – but his finishing was a question mark that remained heading into the top flight.

Six goals in his opening six games in the Premier League – including a stunning hat-trick against Aston Villa – has helped quieten down any remaining dissenting voices.

Bamford has been in the big time before, but never as the main man. First it was Crystal Palace who offered him an opportunity before Norwich City, Burnley and Middlesbrough all came and went.

The 27-year-old, though, has always held staunch self-belief that he was good enough for England’s top division despite having evidence being hard to come by.

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“I’m proving it to myself,” Bamford said over his early season form.

“Even the first season I had playing in the Premier League [on loan at Crystal Palace], I had belief back then that I could play at that level. But I didn’t show it and I don’t feel like I had a real chance at it.

“For me it’s about proving to myself that I was right that I can play at this level and I can cope with the demands of the Premier League.

“After that, I guess proving anybody else wrong is a bit of a bonus.”

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Bamford has found himself with another shot at the Premier League with a football club and head coach that has invested a lot of time and money in his abilities.

Bielsa’s arrival in West Yorkshire over two years ago elevated many of those in the United ranks to new levels; Bamford is no different.

“Since he has come in he has put his faith in me from the beginning,” Bamford continued.

“There were tough times last season where he stuck by me as long as I was working for the team, even if I wasn’t scoring he still had this belief in me.

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“There’s a big thing there where I feel like I need to repay that to him. I’ve had a good start with six goals and that goes some way to repaying him but you’re only as good as your last game.

“We start fresh again on Monday [against Leicester] and for the team and Marcelo and his coaching staff the three goals are out the window.

“It’s a clean slate again. He’s always demanding more and he knows that every single one of us can be better.

“He always pushes for that.”

Bielsa is not a manager who gets close to his players but a connection between player and manager is clear.

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The striker spent much of his career bouncing from loan spell to loan spell whilst on the books at Chelsea and many of those who acquired his services were looking for instant results.

“He’s not so much a man to man hands on coach,” Bamford said.

“We have individual meetings the night before a game where you go through the previous game. He tells you what you did well, what you did bad and what he expects from the next game.

“That’s really the only one-to-one interaction you have. Throughout the week on the training pitch he’s so demanding and he makes sure you keep your levels high.

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“He knows if you drop off then it’s not going to be good for you or the team. He feels like he can improve us more and more and he probably can.”

And despite a stunning start to the season there is no time for rest, as Bamford knows.

“There’s no let up,” he admitted.

“Even if we were flying and won all of our games it would probably make him [Bielsa] even more intense because he doesn’t want us to take our foot off the pedal.

“It’s the way it should be. As human beings we can get a bit comfortable when we’re doing all right but he never lets that happen.

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“He always keeps the pressure on and makes sure we’re firing.

“With the squad we have got there is such good competition that everyone knows you’re fighting for your place. You have to keep playing well.”

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