Aaronson Reflects on Recent Challenges and Team Resilience

During a passionate 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Elland Road, Brenden Aaronson showcased his skills by scoring a goal. He believed he had done enough to secure at least a point for Leeds United in their subsequent match against Newcastle. Aaronson opened the scoring and later helped the team take a 3-2 lead with just 11 minutes remaining. However, a dramatic finish saw Newcastle equalize after Aaronson was penalized for a handball, followed by Harvey Barnes netting the winner in the 12th minute of stoppage time.

Despite facing scrutiny regarding his current role and future prospects early in the 2025-26 season, Aaronson remains optimistic. However, he acknowledged that Leeds has let five points slip in their last two Premier League matches. Following the heartbreaking defeat at Newcastle, he stated to the club’s media team: “I am devastated. That is football at the end of the day, and of course I am mad at myself, but I think we could have done better defending on a couple of occasions.”

He continued, “I think we are in a little bit of a situation where when we score, we are kind of giving up a goal not too long after, so I think we need to change that and we will look at that. We are all upset. We know that we let this slip away a little bit but you always have to take the positives. To come here and to go up three times in a row and almost tie and win the game shows how good this team is. We need to just keep going from here. We need to not let this bring us down. We have an FA Cup game at the weekend and then right back into the league at home.”

Leeds was frustrated with the decision to award a late penalty, confirmed after a VAR review. Aaronson’s handball was deemed unintentional, as he turned away from a cross and the ball struck his arm. Nonetheless, the match officials upheld their decision, and Bruno Guimaraes successfully converted the penalty.

After the match, Leeds manager Daniel Farke commented, “Late heartbreak from my lads in the 91st minute, a handball given. The referee was very happy to give the situation without a split-second wait and thinking about it. Of course, the whole crowd was asking for it and he was happy to give it really quickly.” He further expressed his belief that the handball decision did not reflect the spirit of the game, emphasizing that Aaronson had no intention to play the ball with his hand.

Aaronson was substituted shortly after the penalty incident, appearing fatigued after a demanding 97 minutes. Farke mentioned that the player was only experiencing cramp and that there was “nothing major” concerning his fitness. Looking ahead, Aaronson may be rested for Leeds’ upcoming FA Cup third-round match against Championship side Derby, allowing Farke to consider adjustments in the lineup.

Despite the challenges, Aaronson is eager to maximize his playing time, particularly as he is currently in fine form. With the USMNT’s World Cup preparations underway, he aims to solidify his position in the team ahead of the tournament this summer.