Leeds United captain Ethan Ampadu has set the standard all season long. The same simply cannot be said for Spurs skipper Cristian Romero.
Leeds’ Premier League survival this campaign has come down to several factors working in their favour. Strong individual performances, Daniel Farke’s management, and the struggles of rival clubs have all played a part.
But above everything else, Farke has built a culture of unity since arriving at Elland Road. Team spirit has always come before individual ego.
Ethan Ampadu leads Leeds United to safety and earns Player of the Season
There are plenty of players who deserve praise for helping Leeds avoid the drop this season. Still, one figure stands above the rest — captain Ethan Ampadu.
From the very start of the campaign, Leeds understood that togetherness would be essential. Having one of the club’s strongest captains in recent years leading that mentality has made a huge difference.
Ampadu’s influence has not gone unnoticed beyond LS11 either. More importantly, though, he was rewarded with both the club’s Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season awards.
Chosen by both supporters and teammates, Ampadu has rightly been recognised as the driving force behind Leeds’ successful survival fight. It perfectly sums up the season that the composed yet fearless skipper dominated the awards night.
Spurs captain contrast highlights exactly why Leeds United are safe
While Leeds’ unity has been crucial in Farke steering the club clear of relegation, Spurs have suffered because their squad appears completely disconnected.
Supporters have grown increasingly frustrated with the team, and after two years of poor performances, it is easy to understand why.
Leading the decline has been club captain Cristian Romero. The World Cup-winning defender is undeniably world-class on his day, but he has also been one of the biggest contributors to Spurs’ disastrous campaign.
A serious knee injury has kept Romero out since Roberto De Zerbi’s first match in charge — a 1-0 defeat away at Sunderland.
Even so, many would expect a captain to remain around the squad and help motivate the group during such a difficult period. Instead, Romero will reportedly miss Spurs’ final game of the season against Everton on Sunday after returning to Argentina.
The defender is said to have been granted permission by Tottenham’s medical staff to continue his rehabilitation back home. However, choosing not to be present when the club needs unity and leadership most is a terrible look.
When a captain sets that kind of example, it is no surprise Spurs are staring relegation in the face. It also underlines why Leeds United are nowhere near that conversation heading into the final day.
Ethan Ampadu simply would not allow standards to slip like that.
