In a recent interview, Robin Koch, who is currently on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt from Leeds United, suggested that last season, Leeds took significant defensive risks, which might have contributed to the team’s relegation to the Championship.
Robin Koch joined Leeds United as one of Marcelo Bielsa’s first Premier League signings, initially for £11.5 million, which eventually rose to £13 million. However, after Leeds was relegated to the Championship, the German international pursued a loan move elsewhere. During the summer, reports from Bild indicated that Koch, along with other Leeds players, had a clause in their contracts that allowed them to leave for free in the event of relegation. Contrary to this, Leeds Live contested these reports, claiming that if Koch were to leave permanently, a suitor would have to pay compensation to Leeds United. Ultimately, Koch secured a season-long loan to Eintracht Frankfurt.
In an interview on the official Eintracht Frankfurt Podcast, Koch discussed the defensive issues at Leeds, acknowledging that the team took significant risks when pressing high up the pitch. He mentioned, “In Leeds, there was a lot of pressing and therefore extreme risk at the back. Of course, it’s more preferable for a defender to maintain a clean sheet or concede fewer goals.”
The writer of this piece agrees with Koch’s comments, highlighting that Leeds had the highest number of goals conceded in the Premier League last season, largely due to their high-risk pressing tactics. However, the writer also suggests that, given Koch’s ongoing contract with Leeds, some fans may find his comments uncomfortable, especially considering that he left the club in the summer instead of staying to help them return to the top flight.
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