Daniel Farke’s job at Leeds United remains in the balance but Pep Guardiola gave his verdict on the manager long ago.
Leeds United are still in a jubilant mood after securing Premier League promotion and the party could get even wilder if they win the Championship title ahead of Burnley on Saturday.
With an open-top bus parade to come and plans already moving forward to expand Elland Road, there’s loads to celebrate for Leeds fans at the moment.
However, uncertainty surrounding the future of Daniel Farke is hanging over the club like a grey and stormy cloud.
The final whistle had hardly blown on Burnley’s win over Sheffield United, which secured Leeds’ promotion, before Farke’s ability to keep the side in the Premier League was questioned by pundits.
It then emerged that Leeds are indeed ‘considering’ sacking Farke before a report surfaced that the 49ers were preparing for next season with him in charge.
However, there has been no public backing from the owners or chairman Paraag Marathe, with the silence casting further doubt on Farke’s position the longer it drags on.
With the season coming to a close against Plymouth on Saturday, and attention then able to fully turn to next season, a final decision may be made shortly afterwards.
As well as his brilliant work over the last two seasons, a glowing review of Farke from legendary manager Pep Guardiola might help his case.
Pep Guardiola admires Daniel Farke, an eye-opener for Leeds
Speaking in August 2021 ahead of facing the newly promoted Norwich City, Guardiola was full of praise for Farke.
He said in his pre-match press conference: “There are relations where you have more feelings than the others.
“Not in managers, in life. The two or three times we met each other… he is German. I worked there.
“I like his courage. The proposal is always so attractive. I like it.
“I am very pleased they came back after being relegated. The support he had from the club and now they have extended the contract for many years. That means they feel comfortable together. That’s all.”
Earlier that year, Guardiola even admitted he enjoyed watching Farke’s Norwich in his rare spare time between Manchester City matches when they were flying high in the second division.
When listing the games he had recently watched to relax, the Catalonian said: “And yeah, I have a good relation with the Norwich manager, so if they play I like to watch them.
“(If) I have some friends in the teams, I watch them, we have fun with a glass of wine. But normally, when I watch football now, it’s because it is my team or our opponents. The rest? I don’t have time.”
Such high praise from the best manager in the history of the sport should certainly come under consideration by The 49ers as they weigh up their next move.
Whatever they decide on the manager role at the club, they will have to do it quickly ahead of a pivotal summer transfer window.
What Daniel Farke has said about Pep Guardiola
The feelings of respect and adulation between the two managers are mutual.
Speaking in response to Guardiola’s revelation that he watched his side to relax, Farke opened up on how much of an inspiration Guardiola is and on their relationship.
He said: “Of course, Pep is one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best,” Farke said. “You know how much I also like his approach, his style, and how he influences the game. He’s fantastic and a big inspiration to so many people in this business.
“He is always ahead of the wave. He has played with a false nine when no one was speaking about a false nine. He was dominating possession when everyone was speaking about pressing. He played with full-backs in the middle of the park when no one would even be able to think about this.
“So he was always a big inspiration to many, many coaches and many people in this business and for that he’s a world-class coach. We have a really good and close relationship.
“I know he follows Norwich City quite closely and he spoke about how much he really likes us. If one of the best coaches in the world likes what you’re doing at the football club, it’s good for us.
“I think he’s a fantastic coach and a fantastic person and it’s great that we have a good relationship.”
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