Pakistan · World · Independent Digital Newsroom
Not playing," said Trafford."You are ringing a lot of people and just venting.
Like most people, you have a [bad] day at work and you ring someone up."I ring my dad, I ring my mum, I ring my missus, I ring my mates.
I like ringing my mates and we can just have a good talk about it all.
It's quite funny."Despite his limited playing time, Trafford believes he still gained plenty from his final season at City, having helped the club win the League Cup and FA Cup after starting both finals at Wembley."Going into any season, I always have the highest of hopes and always the belief that it will go the best way it could," he added."Unfortunately, we didn't win all four trophies.
It didn't go how I expected it to go, but it happens."In the moment, I just tried to make the best of it as I could.
Looking back, I don't think it was a disappointing season in the end because I learned so much, I improved so much and I won two trophies in one year."There were moments when I was very down, regretting things and feeling disappointed, but looking back, I'm very thankful for the experience.
What an incredible year."Trafford was part of England's squad for the 2026 World Cup and, although he did not get game time, being part of Thomas Tuchel's squad was an "incredible experience" that he says he will not forget."I didn't play, but it is what it is," said Trafford.
"I didn't expect to play when I got called up.
I knew what my role was, but you just take as much experience as possible, learn from it and keep trying to win the day, because the more days you win, the better position you're in."Next time around, though, Trafford hopes to be England's starting goalkeeper and believes that if he continues his impressive performances with Leeds, that ambition is entirely achievable."It's my aim and it's something I've always dreamed….
Every day I try to keep improving to put myself in the best position to be England's number one one day."I think everyone in the goalkeeping department with the national team wants to be number one because it's an amazing position to be in."After returning from the World Cup, Trafford left City to join Leeds United in a deal worth up to £45m – a record for a British goalkeeper.Since….
"You look at the fanbase, everyone here – it's an incredible place.
It's just somewhere that's only going and getting better."We'd love to get back into Europe.
I think every club you ask would like to get into Europe, so the main goal is just to keep on improving."Chiellini guidance to Leeds 'rock' – could Muharemovic be signing of season?Get football news sent straight to your phone James Trafford says not playing for Manchester City last season was "horrendous" and left him with no choice but to leave the club and join Leeds United in the summer.
