Graham Smyth has compared Leeds United manager Daniel Farke to Marcelo Bielsa after his comments about Charlie Cresswell on Saturday.
Smyth was speaking on the latest episode of the Inside Elland Road Podcast where he discussed Farke’s decision to praise Cresswell after the win over Watford.
Leeds ran out comfortable 3-0 winners against the Hornets last weekend, with Cresswell having been an unused substitute for the game.
Cresswell had been out of the squad completely for the trip to Hull City three days earlier, but was welcomed back into the fold due to Joe Rodon’s suspension.
As such, Farke felt obliged to praise the attitude and mentality of the 21-year-old to support his teammates in training, and in the dressing room, despite his lack of involvement on the pitch.
Smyth likens Farke to Bielsa after Cresswell comments
In assessment of those comments, Smyth believes you can draw similarities between Farke and Bielsa for the way he chose such a left-field player to praise after a 3-0 win.
He said: “You can’t help but draw parallels and similarities to a former Leeds United manager, who also said the most important people in the game are supporters and there’s a responsibility to entertain them, to win obviously, but to play football that people can get behind and enjoy.
“I felt there was a little bit of that in the Charlie Cresswell stuff. It wouldn’t have been beyond Bielsa to pick out a completely left-field player to congratulate or highlight really unexpectedly. Because no one expected Daniel Farke to big up Cresswell on Saturday, a defender who did not play in a 3-0 victory.”
Farke really does feel like the first manager Leeds supporters have really been able to get behind since Bielsa’s departure in February 2022.
Bielsa was loved by the Leeds fanbase not only for his style of football, but his unique personality and Farke certainly feels like he is bringing that to the club again.
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