Ao Tanaka
Leeds United’s Ao Tanaka candidly assessed his performance following the team’s recent match against West Ham United. The Japanese international, who returned to the starting lineup after a two-month hiatus due to a knee injury, admitted to feeling below par in his first start since August. Despite the setback, Tanaka expressed his determination to improve and his gratitude for playing in the Premier League.
Ao Tanaka said: “It was not the best performance for me, but I need to improve my quality every game. And because this is the Premier League, I can’t play high performance every game. I will try my best every game. It’s my dream, I’m so happy to play in the Premier League. Of course, sometimes I play good, sometimes not good. But I’m so happy to be getting better as a footballer.”
Tanaka’s return to the pitch came after a challenging period marked by injury and competition for his position. His absence was felt during Leeds United’s 5-0 defeat to Arsenal, and upon recovery, he found himself contending with the form of teammate Sean Longstaff and manager Daniel Farke’s preference for Anton Stach. Despite being utilized as a substitute in the four matches preceding the West Ham game, Tanaka’s performance was not up to his usual standards, a fact he openly acknowledged.
In other Leeds United news, academy goalkeeper Darryl Ombang made a notable debut for Darlington FC. On a youth loan, the 20-year-old kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory over Southport, marking Darlington’s first home win of the season. Ombang, who has prior first-team experience with Farsley Celtic and Hartlepool United, is expected to continue gaining valuable match experience during his loan spell.
Leeds United is also focused on the future, as the club seeks assurances from Leeds City Council regarding the timeline for their Elland Road expansion plans. The City Plans Panel is set to review the club’s application, with transport concerns being a key point of discussion. Despite these challenges, the club remains optimistic about the approval of their plans in the upcoming decision meeting.
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