July 2021 was the last time Rasmus Kristensen watched Denmark from his sofa at home and that was before he had ever even been called up to play for his country. Since his debut, which came two months later, the right-back has been in every Danish squad until now.
Kasper Hjulmand has traded the underplayed 25-year-old in for a younger model at full-back. Elias Jelert, Copenhagen’s 19-year-old defender, has been called up for the first time this month.
It’s a by-product of the little game time Kristensen has had in recent weeks at Leeds United. In 2023, the Dane has started just four of the club’s 14 games and they all came in the FA Cup.
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Kristensen probably saw this coming. Hjulmand has told Danish media this week how much he still likes the Leeds man, but he simply hasn’t played enough this year. After dominating United’s starting line-up until the World Cup, vice-captain Luke Ayling has now supplanted the Dane as the club’s premier right-back.
Kristensen’s limited pitch time is a neat explainer of why Cody Drameh had to go out on loan in January. It’s a tough spot for Kristensen, who would not have anticipated much time on the bench after an eight-figure summer transfer to Elland Road.
However, there has been no sulking from the former Red Bull Salzburg defender. Javi Gracia, who has had less than three weeks to work with Kristensen, is already waxing lyrical about the example he is setting behind the scenes.
Asked what his style of management was when it came to easing players through disappointing news like this week’s, Gracia was effusive in his praise for how Kristensen has been since he arrived.
“I understand, perfectly, Ras because if you don't play what you want, you have to be disappointed and I understand perfectly,” he said. “At the same time, I have to tell you his attitude is an example for all the players.
“He’s always smiling, always trying to help the team. When we play, if you remember, against Fulham and we didn't have centre-backs, he was the first to offer, to tell me, ‘If I have to play there, I do it. I only have one target [and it] is to help the team.’
“It’s something I give great value [to] and I want all the people [to] know how good, how professional this player is.”
That match at Fulham is the one start Kristensen has had under Gracia and indeed for Leeds since the January 28 trip to Accrington Stanley. The right-back’s only league minutes in 2023 were from half-time at Everton as Max Wober’s replacement.
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