What made Leeds United's Old Trafford triumph 'even sweeter' as £15m star reflects on away-day woes
Jaka Bijol was at the heart of a historic Leeds United victory at Manchester United on Monday.
Leeds United defender Jaka Bijol believes the second-half suffering his side felt made a historic 2-1 victory over Manchester United ‘even sweeter’.
Bijol was part of a Leeds team who won their first top-flight game at Old Trafford since 1981 on Monday, with Noah Okafor’s first-half brace proving decisive. Daniel Farke’s side could have been out of sight at half-time and hosts Manchester United were reduced to 10 men around the hour-mark, with Lisandro Martinez sent off for a hair pull on Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Despite that man advantage, Leeds saw their lead halved with 20 minutes to go when Casemiro was free at the back post to head home a Bruno Fernandes cross. Bijol and his teammates managed the game well at times but were also forced into some desperate defending, Calvert-Lewin clearing an effort off the line after missing some great chances to score.
Leeds got through seven minutes of added-time without any major scares to claim a historic victory and pull six points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in 18th. But it wasn’t all smooth second-half sailing for the Whites and Bijol believes that suffering only heightened the feeling of joy come full-time.
"We played a really top-notch first half,” he is quoted telling Slovenian outlet Ekipa. “On the other hand, [Manchester] United had not played for 25 days, which is probably a bit late, because the training sessions are not the same.
“We were right this time, this is an important win for us, important three points. We also had top performances on the road, but we lost a lot of points at the end. That's why we may have had a subconscious fear this time that we would concede a late goal."
“I think we played really smart, we suffered a little unnecessarily in the second half. Maybe that's why it's even sweeter."
Jaka Bijol on facing compatriot Benjamin Sesko
Bijol was at the heart of another impressive Leeds defensive showing on Monday, producing some crucial tackles and blocks to keep his side’s lead intact. The centre-back only looked in serious trouble once when he got turned by compatriot Benjamin Sesko.
The Manchester United star produced a great piece of skill to get free but Bijol never made it easy to get a shot off and Karl Darlow produced a strong hand. It wasn’t quite enough to clear any danger, but a three-man effort to thwart the forward was completed when James Justin headed off the line.
"Beni [Sesko] also had one good chance, if he had scored, we would probably have talked a little differently,” Bijol added. “But that's how football is, sometimes he gives, sometimes he takes a little away. Sometimes it's better not to jump with Beni, because when he jumps, I sometimes only see a shadow (laughs).”
Bijol and his Leeds teammates enjoyed the celebrations on Monday but focus will quickly turn onto what’s next. The Whites host rock-bottom Wolves at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon, with the chance to pull nine points clear of relegation trouble with a victory.