'It hasn’t been an easy road' - Brenden Aaronson opens up on his impressive Leeds United turnaround
Brenden Aaronson’s time at Leeds United has been a rollercoaster to say the least.
The attacking midfielder arrived at Elland Road from Red Bull Salzburg to much fanfare in 2022, carrying the weight of a hefty £25m fee.
He struggled to get to grips with the Premier League in his maiden campaign and when Leeds were relegated, he left on loan for Union Berlin.
The 25-year-old faced criticism upon his return to West Yorkshire a year later, but soon became a regular under Daniel Farke.
Doubts over the American’s physicality and attacking output lingered, although critics have been answered in recent weeks.
Aaronson has enjoyed an impressive turnaround and is currently among Leeds’ most in-form players.
Brenden Aaronson opens up
In an interview with The Athletic, he said: “It’s crazy. The biggest thing is, I’m lucky, because I can’t say enough about the support system, the people around the club.
“It hasn’t been an easy road, mentally at least, but I’ve always had the backing from people I love most. Football’s a small thing in life that you sometimes have to put into perspective. I want to be the best at it, and working hard has given me that. You just keep that attitude.”
Aaronson’s shoulders are broader than they were when he arrived in LS11 nearly four years ago and the playmaker has conceded he was not “in the right headspace” when Leeds first signed him.
He said: “I’m an emotional person. everybody knows I wear my heart on my sleeve. I want to be the best player I can, but I care about what people think. I’ve grown through this process so much in the mental things.
“When I first came to this club, I was not in the right headspace. I was much younger. I didn’t know how to handle the pressure.
“I came in for a lot of money. It’s tough, and you’re a young kid. I’ve never experienced anything like that, coming from America. Red Bull Salzburg is a great club, but it doesn’t have a fanbase like Leeds’.
“It was definitely hard at first, and I learned a lot through that period. That’s finally what got me to today, where I don’t let that bother me. I talk to my fiancée, I talk to my parents, I talk to people I work with behind the scenes, and I’m really happy I have those people in that support system, helping me through moments that are tough.”
World Cup ambition
The timing of Aaronson’s turnaround is ideal. Not only has he helped the Whites give themselves breathing space in the battle to avoid relegation, he is staking a claim for a spot in the USA squad for the World Cup this summer.
He said: “It’s great having a World Cup coming up and being in the form I’m in. It’s huge for me, but the tough thing is, it’s not your decision. It’s the coach’s, and I’m going to do everything I can to make it easy for him.”