Leeds United face Derby County in a crucial Championship clash at Elland Road on Saturday (12:30pm), as both teams target automatic promotion. With the season intensifying, Leeds are keen to avoid any further slip-ups in what looks set to be a tightly contested race for the top spots.
The Whites have struggled with back-to-back defeats this season, the first of which occurred last Christmas. More recently, they endured a tough spell at the tail end of the 2023-24 campaign, preparing for the play-offs. Their latest loss came in a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers last weekend.
Daniel Farke, discussing the loss to Blackburn, emphasized the importance of maintaining a “winning mentality.” He explained, “Setbacks are a normal part of football, but what matters is how you respond. Every team will go through tough times. We had a challenging defeat at Blackburn, but what counts is the bounce-back. So far this season, we’ve shown we can react quickly and get back to winning ways.”
Farke acknowledged the psychological toll that defeats can take on a team, but reiterated that Leeds are determined to recover quickly and get back on track with a positive result against Derby.
Meanwhile, Derby manager Paul Warne has come to Farke’s defense, stating that he cannot understand why the Leeds manager would be under pressure, especially considering the team’s overall strong form. Leeds have won eight of their last 13 matches, losing only twice during that run.
Farke, who is no stranger to high expectations, shrugged off any concerns about criticism. “Paul and I have a good relationship, but he understands how it works at Leeds,” said Farke. “When you’re at a club like this, there will always be a small number of people dissatisfied, even if you’re winning titles. I’m not feeling under pressure. I knew what I was signing up for when I joined Leeds – an emotional club where opinions can be polarized. If you can’t handle the heat, then this isn’t the job for you.”
