Daniel Farke will have slept well on Wednesday night after removing a big chunk of pressure on his shoulders following Leeds United’s brilliant 3-1 win over Chelsea.
Leeds had garnered some momentum from the unlucky defeat at Man City, in which Farke changed formation and almost orchestrated a stunning comeback. He stuck with the same system against Chelsea.
What a win! Who was your Man of the Match? 🔥
It worked to perfection. Leeds were hard to beat, and they were threatening on the counter and from set-pieces. Goals from Jaka Bijol, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Ao Tanaka got the job done as Leeds won 3-1.
A fourth Premier League win of the season lifts the enormous pressure hanging over Farke’s head. A pressure so big that Leeds fans wanted Farke sacked and even with Leeds winning, one fan wasn’t happy.
Daniel Farke shares interaction with Leeds fan behind the dugout
It’s not the first time Farke has had to deal with a fan giving him grief in the dugout, with a fan making his way into the dugout to tell Farke to make a sub against Aston Villa. Obviously, that fan has been arrested.
Now, Farke told his post-match press conference that a Leeds fan was urging him to get his side up the pitch and attack, and not sit back. Farke says he spoke to the supporter, who was sat behind the dugout.
“I didn’t have the feeling that we didn’t have one unity. Elland Road at its best. Apart from the guy behind my bench. I said listen, I’d love to attack, but we are playing against Chelsea, mate, so we have to defend.”
What the pundits said about Leeds and Daniel Farke after the win over Chelsea 👏
Stephen Warnock: “The last game and a half could change Leeds’ season, with the new system and the belief. They look a completely different team now.”
Conor Coady: “Leeds were fantastic. You talk about bogey teams and I think they are Maresca’s bogey team, he always seems to struggle against them.”
Gary Neville: “The way in which they played tonight will see them pick up more points.There’s a lot to like about what we saw.”
Stuart Dallas: “Leeds were bang on it. The manager deserves credit, he could’ve have easily gone back to what he believes in, but he stuck with it and deserves credit.”
Daniel Farke finally ends dismal career run against Chelsea
Going into the game, Farke knew he will have been up against it and not just because Leeds had lost six of the previous seven, and four consecutive matches. But because of his record against the London side.
Six previous matches, five as Norwich manager and once with Leeds. In that time, Farke has been beaten five times, all in his last five matches against Norwich. The only other, a 0-0 draw with Chelsea in the Cup.
It is a massive win for Farke, a win that Gary Neville thinks has bought Farke some time. The win will see fans get behind Farke, or at least the majority, with Ethan Ampadu confirming the squad are with Farke.
Leeds now have a quick turnaround before facing Liverpool on Saturday evening and with Arne Slot’s side in a dismal run of form themselves, there is every chance Leeds could get a result against Liverpool.
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