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Matty Hewitt

Tyler Adams on what Leeds United expect from 'big six' matches this season after Chelsea win

Leeds United's win over Chelsea is undoubtedly the standout performance of the season for Jesse Marsch's side. The 3-0 win over the Blues was a complete performance at Elland Road and it appeared that the Whites had turned a corner from last season.

Despite the loss of Kalvin Phillips and Raphinha, there's been substantial investment into the squad and steady start to the current Premier League campaign. The most recent outing against Brentford raised some eyebrows, with Marsch's side comfortably second best.

There's hope that the performance against the Bees was a one off anomaly and fans are hoping to see more performances like the win over Chelsea. Tyler Adams believes the win against the Blue is a good signpost for the club moving in the right direction, but also a target to aim for.

READ MORE: 'Outstanding' Jesse Marsch is perfect fit for Premier League and can one day coach his country

Adams told the Men in Blazers podcast: "It was a good feeling early on in the season. To get a win against one of the top six teams it shows the club is moving in the right direction.

"The signings that we've made, it's shown the progress that we've wanted to see and people were wanting to have an impact the way that they wanted to. But again, I have this mentality that if the club wants to go in the direction we want to go in then it has to be normal that we're getting results and getting results consistently against the best teams.

"So, we want more of these results. When we play Arsenal, when we play Liverpool, when we play these teams we have to go out with the idea that we're going to get the results. It's not like we should or we can, we have to get a result.

"Just in general, in football, they say a lot of times that a game is determined through the midfield. If you win the midfield [battle] then you often have the potential to win games.

"Dominating the midfield for me is an important task in the team. I want to be the guy that sets the tone and is able to control the game through the midfield. I feel like another step in my development is set the tempo, set the tone, everything in how I play and I think I have the ability to do that."

Adams' team-mate and compatriot Brenden Aaronson was on target against the Blues, scoring his first goal in a Leeds United shirt. "Previously to his goal, Brenden had lost the ball that allowed him to continue to run through," said Adams. It's so crazy because I've had the opportunity to play with Brenden at so many levels now, we're such good friends now and the chemistry is just there.

"I was on the complete same wavelength as him because as soon as he lost the ball and started running at the goalkeeper, I said he's getting something from this play. Because, Brenden is so tenacious when he counter-presses and when he pressures you, it's not very easy to dribble by you.

"He's just very scrappy. He'll either foul you or get a kick on you or something. I was like 'Mendy, I hope you don't take another touch right now for your sake.' He took another touch and I was like 'Brenden's got him.'

"He's so quick around the ball like that and it's the exact player I wanted to be running at the goalkeeper in that situation. I was super happy for him because that one finally counted for him and that's his goal.

"We all jumped on top of him and I was screaming in his ear 'You deserve it.' It felt like a long time coming especially after two Premier League games before that and he had a couple of chances. He didn't get the one against Wolves and he's been working on that."

Adams admits that he still felt excitement the following day and was proud of the Whites for overcoming one of the 'worlds best.'

"Pure excitement to be honest with you," he said when asked how it felt at the final whistle. "To achieve my dream of playing in the Premier League especially against those big teams. It's the reason you want to come to such an amazing league and sometimes you get a result and think maybe we got a little bit lucky but on that day it was just so deserved.

"We had played so well. The team, the 11 guys on the field plus the subs that came in just made all the difference. We were able to compete with one of the best teams in the world.

"I had happened to give my shirt away and the kid threw the flag at me. I was like okay I'm giving you my jersey and you're giving me an American flag I'll take than any day. I was really excited still. You still have so much adrenaline I felt it the next day."

Both Adams and Aaronson were pictured alongside fellow American Christian Pulisic at full-time talking after the final whistle. The Chelsea winger has also been linked with a move to Elland Road of late, but Adams claims the trios were just chatting and are good friends after coming through the youth system back home.

"To be able to play against the big teams and see Americans on the other side and compete with them, we're all fighting for the same thing," Adams said. "We all want to be the best at whatever our maximum potential is and play for the best team that we possibly can and represent our country.

"We're also good friends. The American soccer community, although it's growing, it's still really small at the same time. We're all close knitted and we have good relationships with each other. We were just chatting it up."

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