Leeds Utd news: Tiger Tanaka - the midfield maestro filling in for the missing Ethan Ampadu

Sports News Blitz writer and Leeds United fan Harry Whitfield takes a look at the impact midfielder Ao Tanaka is having on Daniel Farke’s team since breaking into the starting XI.

Leeds United fans were jubilant watching on as their team were 1-0 up against Coventry City thanks to a sublime finish from Wilfried Gnonto.

Leading into half-time, there were no concerns for Daniel Farke’s side until his star defensive midfielder, Ethan Ampadu, was forced off due to a knee injury.

However, this gave new summer signing Ao Tanaka, from Fortuna Dusseldorf, the chance to impress in front of the Leeds faithful at Elland Road.

Immediately, Tanaka settled into the game, always receiving the ball calmly and finding the right pass despite the constant pressure from the Coventry forwards.

The key highlight of his performance was a well-weighted lobbed pass for Gnonto to run onto and eventually cut back for Joel Piroe to score the third and final goal in a 3-0 victory.

Since then, Farke also lost his other starting midfielder Illia Gruev to injury, giving the chance for Joe Rothwell to partner Tanaka in the Whites midfield.

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Unbeaten midfield pairing

The midfield duo have started together in the last five games and remain unbeaten whilst playing together.

Tanaka’s best game came against Sheffield United in a Yorkshire derby at home, where Leeds came out on top in a 2-0 victory.

The 26-year-old stole the show, his tackles, passing range, energy and ability to cover the ground quickly meant the home side controlled the game in the middle of the park.

The following game, he impressed yet again in a 2-1 midweek victory over Watford where Farke revealed the squad had a peculiar nickname for Tanaka.

‘Tiger Tanaka’ was the head of the Japanese Secret Service in the 1967 James Bond film ‘You Only Live Twice’.

After the game, the German manager said that even through the squad calls him ‘Tiger Tanaka’ he was ‘more like James Bond for us’.

And he is not wrong.

Slow start

After a slow start for Tanaka adjusting to life in England, he has been pivotal in carrying the club’s form and push for promotion, creating a massive headache for Farke when Ampadu is fit again.

You would not want to drop Tanaka or Rothwell with the way they dominate possession for Leeds and provide a more positive outlook for the team rather than Gruev/Ampadu.

But the Wales international has been part of the reason for Leeds’ strong defensive record last season and it would be stupid not to consider putting him back in the starting XI.

However, Ampadu did play at centre-back for a large part of the 2023/24 Championship season.

So maybe its Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk who will have to worry about keeping their place when the former Chelsea player returns.

Because Tanaka is terrific and with the way he is playing now, you could argue there are not many midfielders better than him in this league.

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