'We deserve this' - Leeds United new-boy responds to European question as Newcastle 'problem' laid bare
Leeds United climbed into the Premier League top-four following Monday’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United.
Leeds United new-boy Nico Elvedi didn’t put a limit on what his side can achieve this season after Monday’s dominant 4-1 win over Newcastle United.
Elvedi was at the heart of a Leeds side who dominated Newcastle from start to finish under the Elland Road lights. A Lewis Miley own-goal kicked things off around the half-hour mark and by half-time, the Whites were 3-0 up through Jayden Bogle and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Noah Okafor added a fourth on the hour with the only downside being an added-time consolation from Newcastle substitute Bazoumana Touré. Elvedi explained Leeds’ aggressive tactical approach after full-time and admitted his teammates can feel proud after such a win.
“I think it was a very good team performance today,” Elvedi told the YEP. “We deserved the win. I think we played a very good game from the start to the end. Now we are in third place. I think it is a very good start, I think we can be really proud of our performance and keep going.
“Our plan was to press one against one, and I think we did this very well. They had a problem with our pressing, and in the end I think we deserved this win.”
Leeds could have sat on their three-goal half-time lead but in running down the tunnel, Farke was clearly wanting to avoid a Chelsea repeat. Instead, his side kept their foot firmly on the gas with Okafor’s half-volley coming after a number of second-half chances.
“He [Farke] said just keep going with what we did in the first half, and I think we did that in the second half very well, looking for the fourth goal,” Elvedi explained of the half-time message. “We had a great game. I think every player can be proud of their performance tonight.”
Nico Elvedi on Leeds United season ambitions
While four matches is an admittedly small sample, Leeds’ eight-point haul is enough to see them sit third in the Premier League, above Hull City on goal difference. Club chiefs will first see that total as 20 per cent of the way towards 40 points and safety but fans and those on the outside are starting to look up.
In 11 years at Borussia Monchengladbach, Elvedi played three seasons of Champions League football and another in the Europa League. The experienced defender stopped short of backing new club Leeds to add another but admits the current third-place spot is deserved.
“I think we had a good pre-season and a good start in the league and I think we deserve this third place,” he added. “We have to keep going. Sunday is also a very important game against Crystal Palace.
“We’ve only played four games this season, so it's hard to say where we can go. But we have a very good team. I think we can reach a lot this season. We just have to keep going and play our game, and then we will see what we reach at the end of the season.”