"It showed" - Dominic Calvert-Lewin on big Leeds United change, origins and squad's new belief
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has opened up on new Leeds United belief.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has saluted the impact of a big Leeds United change, its origings and new Whites belief.
Leeds ended a fine week in the face of three massive tests with Saturday evening’s thrilling 3-3 draw at home to defending champions Liverpool in which Calvert-Lewin’s penalty started the first of two second-half fightbacks.
Three days on from Wednesday night’s brilliant 3-1 win at home to Chelsea, Leeds were staring down the barrel of defeat after two goals in three minutes from Liverpool star Hugo Ekitike at the start of the second half.
Calvert-Lewin, though, said his side now have a newfound belief and mentality of being able to respond which almost got the Whites a point in similar circumstances in the previous weekend’s last-gasp 3-2 defeat at Manchester City.
That belief, says Calvert-Lewin, stems from United’s work and words together throughout the season so far, something the experienced 28-year-old striker feels he can play a big part of.
Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds about the 3-3 draw with Liverpool, Calvert-Lewin was asked if Leeds had the Reds where they wanted them going in level 0-0 at the break.
“It showed”
"I'd say it was a different test to be honest,” said the Whites no 9.
"I don't think we played quite as fluidly or we were as effective as we were against Chelsea in the first half.
"So at half time we knew it was going to be a different test.
"We knew they were coming to come out and react.
"But we didn't expect to be 2-0 down after five minutes and then you are thinking we've made life hard for ourselves here.
"But I think the difference was we had the belief and the mentality that we could come back and we could stay in the game and it showed."
Asked where that belief had come from, Calvert-Lewin reasoned: "I think it's the day to day camaraderie, it's the values, it's the disciplines each day.
“I've been through my fair share of them”
"It's the togetherness of the group and being around each other and speaking and communicating and that's what you have to do.
"Whenever you go through a sticky spot and I've been through my fair share of them, that's what you have to do, you have to get together and be honest and have honest conversations about what we need to do and where we need to improve and ultimately that provides you with the springboard to go and bounce back."