Leif Davis has revealed that his confidence dipped in the second half of the Premier League season (Image: Ross Halls)
Leif Davis has revealed that his confidence dipped in the second half of the Premier League season (Image: Ross Halls)
Ahead of Ipswich Town's 2-0 defeat to Leicester City, Leif Davis discussed his dip in confidence, his experience of the Premier League and preparing to return to the Championship. Alex Jones reports...
It’s rare for professional footballers to reveal that they have faced a crisis of confidence, but Ipswich Town defender Leif Davis isn’t afraid to admit it.
Going into the season, there were high expectations for him. After a record-breaking Championship campaign, there were hopes that he could kick on in the Premier League, potentially forcing himself into the reckoning for an England call-up.
Now, with one game remaining, he looks a long way away from that, and while he has relished the chance to play at the highest level, he knows how hard it’s been for him.
“For me, it’s been a great experience to play in the best league in the world, against the best teams in the world,” he said.
“I’d say, from a personal perspective, I’ve been a bit disappointed by performances, knowing my quality.
“I lost a lot of confidence in games as well. It’s about building that confidence back up, because you’re playing against the best players in the world.
The left-back returned from his three-match ban against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon
The left-back returned from his three-match ban against Leicester City on Sunday afternoon
(Image: Ross Halls)
“You’re going to get done a lot. You’ve got to work hard in training to stop that.
“I did lose a lot of confidence in games, probably the majority in the second half of the season. I lost a lot of form.
“That’s not just stuff on the pitch, a lot of stuff off the pitch that I had going on as well.
“I know my qualities, I know I can play in this league. Hopefully I’ll be back here soon.”
Asked how he has gone about turning his form around, Davis explained: “I’ve had a lot of chats with the manager. He’s helped me a lot in training, trying to build that back up.
“He knows my quality on the ball and he knows my quality in general. He sees me every day. The lads as well, they see me training and see my qualities.
“The past three weeks, being suspended has helped a lot. He worked with me closely, one-to-one as well, doing extra stuff. I’m starting to find my confidence back again.
“You want to be playing at the best level you can be playing. The past two years, as a team, we’ve achieved a lot. I’d probably say we’ve over-achieved, if anything.
Davis admitted that his season in the Premier League might have come too soon
Davis admitted that his season in the Premier League might have come too soon
(Image: Ross Halls)
“When I came here, I didn’t think we’d get promoted twice in two years. That’s the thing, I think, the journey we’ve been on has been incredible.
“Hopefully next year we can push on again and get back in the Prem.”
There’s a clear argument that, while nobody would have changed Ipswich’s journey from the third tier to the top flight, Premier League football came too early for the club.
Many players would shoot that debate down, but Davis acknowledges its validity, claiming that another season in the Championship may have given him a better platform to take on the Premier League.
“The past two years isn’t only two years,” he stated. “I’ve really had a good run in football, playing consistently, every game in League One and the Championship.
“I think, if I did have another year in the Champ, I would have been a lot more ready for the Prem.
“But like I said, I had to try and grab it with both hands and do the best I could. I don’t think I did do that in the games I played in.
“I lacked a lot of confidence, lost confidence. In the three games that I’ve been suspended for, I feel like I’ve got my confidence back.”
Next season will be different to last season. When Ipswich were last in the Championship, they were the underdog who fought against the odds to win promotion.
The 25-year-old expects Town to challenge for promotion next season (Image: Ross Halls)
Next season, it will be expected. They will be a big fish in a much smaller pond compared to the shark-infested waters of the Premier League.
“It’s more pressure on us in the Champ,” Davis agreed. “Where it was probably other teams, we’re going to be the one that has to win every game in that league with the players that we’ve got.
“It’s pressure, but I think the lads in the dressing room can deal with it.”
On a personal level, Davis is hoping to recreate his red-hot form from last season when he’s back in the Championship.
To do that, he needs to focus on himself and his performances, using his Premier League experience to showcase how much he’s improved.
“The summer is close now,” the 25-year-old concluded. “I’m going to switch off for a little bit, for a few weeks, and then get bang back at it. I know what I can do – perform next year.
“I’ve played against the best players in the world, the best right wingers in the world, like [Mohamed] Salah.
“I’ve got to go into next season with my head held high, confident. Obviously I performed well in that league last year, but I’ve got to block out the pressure, the noise of the fans, media, stuff like that, and just go all guns blazing.”
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