“Why not? Yes” – Leeds player has eyes on captain’s armband, trying to ‘lead the team even more’

This season, while many things have changed at Leeds United, there has been one constant in the team at Elland Road, and that’s Robin Koch.

The German defender has started all 25 games he has been available for in the Premier League, and continues to be a regular under Javi Gracia since the Spaniard took over.

He’s even captained Leeds once, in the 5-2 loss to Brentford earlier in the season, and it’s a responsibility he enjoyed, and could be open to taking on his shoulders more regularly going forward.

This is what Koch told Spox on Monday in a lengthy interview about life at the Yorkshire club these days, where he is more than happy.

He said: “I feel very comfortably in the city and in the team. I’ve also made it my goal to grow even more into a leadership role, to lead the team even more on the pitch, to be even louder in training. It’s nice feedback to be voted one of the vice-captains by the team. Of course, it’s also important to perform well on the pitch.”

Asked if he has the aspiration of becoming Leeds captain one day, he replied:  “Why not? Yes. But even without an armband, I want to be a leader in the team and also set a good example on the pitch.”

One of the reasons why he is enjoying life in Yorkshire so much is the reception the team gets whenever they play at home, as he was asked about the atmosphere at Elland Road.

Describing it as ‘extraordinary’, the defender added that ‘every game gives you goosebumps’, saying that fans are far more involved during matches than those in Germany, which is something players notice on the pitch.

For a defender like him, ‘it’s nice when fans go nuts over a tackle’.