Leeds moved out of the relegation zone with an exhilarating 3-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday night.
Daniel Farke – with pressure on his own job – tweaked his tactics admirably to end a run of four consecutive defeats for Leeds, earning widespread praise for outwitting Enzo Maresca.
The Italian praised the German after the final whistle, and Micah Richards has now hailed Daniel Farke as well while speaking on The Rest is Football podcast.
Micah Richards hails “outstanding” Leeds United and “tactician” Daniel Farke
Richards – who Leeds actually released at the age of eight – was thoroughly impressed by the display against Chelsea, and heaped praise on Farke for implementing an effective plan.
What a win! Who was your Man of the Match? 🔥
The 37-year-old said: “Leeds were outstanding. Daniel Farke, I know it’s weird saying it, but he’s a tactician in terms of, he will change depending on what the game needs from the start.
“He doesn’t always react. He thinks, okay, Chelsea are going to play this way. This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to put Nmecha up front with Calvert-Lewin. We’re going to press them really high and use the energy from the crowd.”
Gary Neville also noted that Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin bullied Chelsea throughout the game, saying live on Sky Sports: “The (Chelsea) centre-backs have been sloppy all night. You’ve just got to welly it up the pitch, what are you doing trying to control it in there? That front two for Leeds have beaten Chelsea up for 72 minutes.”
It is a tactic Farke must surely stick with, although it does admittedly leave the German with one less attacking option to bring off the bench.
Joel Piroe could salvage his Leeds United career thanks to 3-5-2 system
On that note, starting Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin together has bumped Joel Piroe up the pecking order.
The Dutchman had initially struggled for playing time this season when Farke was leaving either Nmecha or Calvert-Lewin out.
However, with both now set to start together for a while, and after the injury to Dan James as well, Piroe is likely to be the first attacking option Leeds summon from the bench – him or Noah Okafor.
Leeds United’s player ratings in win against Chelsea 🥳
There was talk of Piroe potentially leaving in January if his situation failed to change.
Therefore, moving to a 3-5-2 might be enough to keep the former Swansea striker at Elland Road for a little longer.
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