Joe Gelhardt Leeds United
Joe Gelhardt has reflected on an incredibly productive first year at Elland Road, culminating in success as he helped Leeds United U23s’ in their title-winning 2020/21 campaign. After his move to Elland Road from Wigan Athletic last summer, Gelhardt has admitted he has had to adjust to the physical step up at his new side and that it has also taken him time to completely adapt to Leeds and Marcelo Biela’s swashbuckling style of play. The ex-Latics player has today been joined at the club by former team-mate Sean McGurk, who has signed a three-year deal and goes into Mark Jackson’s under-23s team next season.
Joe Gelhardt said: “I really enjoyed my first season here. It was a tough step up physically, getting used to the fitness and the manager’s playing style. I’m a player who likes to play their own game on the pitch, but obviously I’m still young. He (Marcelo Bielsa) tells me things and I and take a bit and add that to my game. Obviously, he’s a genius in what he does, everything he tells me I try and implement into my game and sometimes it does take longer than other stuff but, in the end, you do get your head round a few repletion and that’s what the training sessions are like.”
Gerhardt outlines he already feels he has learned an awful lot in his first season at Elland Road, citing the level of technical and tactical quality encompassed within the first team squad and training.
Joe Gelhardt said: “I’ve learnt so much in so little time from basically just the training sessions and how tough they are physically. Once you get through them you feel so happy and your body feels so much better, and technically and tactically its different gravy, it’s unbelievable what you learn from him (Marcelo Bielsa).”
Talking about the difference between playing in the Championship with Wigan to playing for the Whites, Gelhardt cites the gulf in quality between the two and expresses his honour at being able to train with array of top-class international players on a daily basis such as Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Cooper, Patrick Bamford and Raphinha.
Joe Gelhardt said: “When I was playing for Wigan, I was only coming off the bench for ten minutes. While obviously here, we’re lucky enough to train with the first team ever day so you sort of feel like part of the environment. It’s the Premier League not the Championship so it’s bigger step up, I knew it would obviously be tough to get involved with the first team, but I was lucky to get on the bench a few times. It’s unbelievable how much you learn from them (first team players), even just by watching them play. It’s a pleasure to be training with them and be in the same building with top players you learn so much day in, day off from them.”
Gelhardt also discussed his relationship with fellow forward and youth International Sam Greenwood, with whom he had already struck up a friendship before they arrived at Thorp Arch last summer, helping the former Wigan prospect settle in as a Leeds player.
Joe Gelhaldt said: “I think we’ve got a good relationship on and off the field. He’s one of my good mates, I’ve known him a few years from the England set-up. When he told me he was joining (from Arsenal) I was made up because obviously it’s hard meeting new faces, but he was there and he made me feel comfortable and on the pitch we just know each other inside out, so that helped.”
With the likes of Patrick Bamford, Rodrigo, Tyler Roberts and Greenwood all vying for an attacking position within Bielsa’s starting XI next season, Gelhardt is aware that he faces tough competition. However, through application, he is optimistic of getting more first team action ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Joe Gelhardt said: “With hard work hopefully. If I keep my head down and be patient and impress the manager, or do well in the sessions, then hopefully.”
After deliberation about his best position, with Gelhardt equally adept at performing within either the number ten role or as a striker, he admits he’s not sure how to describe himself but is outlined he is happy to play in any attacking role, although Bielsa classes him as a striker.
Joe Gelhardt said: “I’m not sure myself, I know the manager see’s me as a nine. At the start of the season I was playing a bit deeper in the ten role, but I’m easy and don’t mind whatever position (I play in) but I think the manager sees me as a nine so in training and in the games with the U-23’s I’ve been playing as a nine but I don’t mind, I like either.”
