00:00Leeds United became the second of the three promoted clubs to win on the opening match week of this season's Premier League
00:07as they defeated Everton by one goal to nil at Elland Road on Monday evening.
00:12It was shaping up to be actually quite a frustrating evening for the Whites.
00:17They had been the more dominant side throughout the encounter.
00:20Certainly Everton were rather passive throughout the night despite a couple of little bits of spells of possession
00:26perhaps towards the start of the second half.
00:28But Leeds had been dominant in the first half and dominant towards the end of the match as well
00:32but couldn't find a breakthrough and that was really starting to become a worry for not only Daniel Farker
00:38but of course the rest of the Leeds United supporters inside of the stadium.
00:42But then right towards the end of the game a penalty was awarded to Leeds United
00:47for what can be described as a controversial handball decision against Everton defender James Tarkovsky.
00:53Now whichever side of the fence you sit on will probably determine exactly how you feel
00:58about the decision but it was awarded via VAR interference by referee Chris Kavanagh.
01:06It was awarded on field first but then Chris Kavanagh then made sure it was confirmed via the VAR
01:12helping him out through his earpiece.
01:14Handball was the decision because Tarkovsky leant in towards the ball but others are saying that he didn't actually move his arm towards the ball
01:22towards the ball and he was trying to block the ball with his torso and thus it was also quite high up on the body
01:27making it quite perhaps a harsh decision.
01:30But as mentioned that really depends on your interpretation of the rule and also perhaps where your bias lies.
01:36But from a Leeds perspective they certainly won't care about that.
01:41Lucas Nemecha stepped up and slotted the penalty past Jordan Pickford
01:45and Leeds came away with all three points on the opening night.
01:52Yes this is one of the days when you once started to play football and also became a supporter of a team.
01:57So it was sacked on the atmosphere here today and our fortress, Ellen Road, Monday night, floodlights are on, sold out the stadium.
02:05First game since a while on Premier League level and then such a dominant performance and hard fought but I think also well deserved win in the end.
02:12As a newly promoted side in the first home game to be there with three points, clean sheet win, well deserved win.
02:18Also a good level of, very good level of performance.
02:22Couldn't be much better tonight and yes tonight I'm a happy man.
02:25There was a level of intensity about the performance which I think is absolutely necessary at this level now in this league isn't it?
02:32That's the minimum requirement here.
02:35Absolutely.
02:35So I was a bit worried at halftime because we played so dominant in the first half.
02:39I think nearly 70 percent per session, 12 shots already, 21 in the end.
02:44I was thinking if you play that good normally on this level you have to, during the good periods, you have to reward yourself.
02:49Also like with scoring a goal because yeah otherwise one little moment can change your momentum.
02:54And we had this momentum after an essay foul against our captain, he had to leave the pitch.
03:00Then we play for one minute and under load, then he's limping around for two or three minutes out of a sudden.
03:05You play four or five minutes and under load and the experience side like Everton, who was not in the game before, uses to bring the game a bit more into our half.
03:13But I also liked how we reacted so we didn't get nervous.
03:17We defended our clean sheet and gained the momentum back and in the end then yeah with this well-taken penalty, I think in the end a well-deserved win and I'm pretty pleased and happy and especially for everyone who's connected with me tonight for our amazing support.
03:31But also to suffer a lot in the last years, if I understand, to be able to present them with such a magic night and such an atmosphere all together here and such a win feels very special and you feel pretty humble and grateful to be allowed to play a little part in it.
03:47So great tonight but now the players have got to go and do it all again and again and again and again because that's what the Premier League is, isn't it?
03:55Yes, three points won't be enough to stay in this league also in the next season so we have to keep going but it's definitely good for the table to have a few points on the board.
04:01It's good for the confidence, for the whole mood, for the belief, it's right what we're doing, it's right that we dominate games like we did today and not just try to park the bus and want to play football on the front foot.
04:12It's right that we are brave also and don't change our DNA, of course, when there are moments to dig in and to defend well like we did today together with our supporters, we have to do this and today we got our reward.
04:25I'm sure we won't be able to win each and every game and perhaps also not each of your home game but we will try to do this and play always with this with the spirit and with this attitude and if we do so, then in the end I'm also convinced we can win many points in this league and yeah, let's hope that we are the first side who breaks the curse of the newly promoted side, at least it's what we're trying to do.
04:45Thank you so much for this segment that last year.
Be the first to comment