This week Brenden Aaronson's mind is firmly off Leeds United's relegation battle and on the US Men's National Team cause but he sees cause for optimism on the other side of the international break.
Aaronson is away on national team duty for a pair of pre-World Cup friendlies that will test the American's tournament readiness. USMNT host both Belgium and Portugal in Atlanta ahead of their home tournament this summer and Leeds attacker Aaronson has switched focus from the Premier League survival fight.
"It's always tough," he told a press conference on Wednesday evening. "You leave clubs and switch your mindset to the national team. I always tell everybody my game is based on day after day, focusing on the day and how I can get better so my focus is on the national team at the minute."
But when he returns from his time away, potentially with his 58th cap in hand, Aaronson believes Leeds United will get the job done. Seven games remain in the top flight season and Leeds are four points outside the drop zone in 15th place. The American sees their run-in, which has been held up by many commentators as statistically 'easier' than those of their rivals, as a reason to be optimistic. The Whites face bottom two sides Wolves and Burnley at home and travel to relegation-theatened Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham in the final few outings.
"We've had a great season for a team that's come up to the Premier League," said Aaronson. "We're sitting above the relegation zone, which is great. We have a really good run of games going in, where we just need to perform and get the points we need. I believe in the group we have and believe we can achieve our goal."
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