Leeds United have received a significant caution about Daniel Farke’s tenure, in spite of their impressive Championship campaign this season under the German’s guidance. Following a lackluster December, Leeds have managed to avoid defeat in league play throughout 2024, with a close FA Cup loss to Chelsea marking the only setback in their recent performance.
Lately, Leeds have secured victories over their promotion rivals Leicester City, as well as notching substantial wins against Stoke and Sheffield Wednesday. Meanwhile, teams like Southampton and Ipswich have experienced inconsistent results, bringing Leeds within just three points of Leicester, who appeared to be the clear frontrunners a few weeks ago.
With only nine Championship matches remaining, Leeds are positioned narrowly ahead of Ipswich by a single point, and they hold a six-point advantage over Southampton. Southampton, under Russell Martin, has a game in hand and is also set to face Leeds in the upcoming weeks.
As Leeds aims for a swift return to the Premier League, fans are filled with optimism. However, a word of caution has been issued regarding the challenges that may lie ahead should they secure promotion. “I can envision him staying for a considerable duration,” shared former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton with Football Insider, regarding Farke’s tenure. “He’ll remain as long as the positive results continue. But in football, things can change rapidly.
“Should their performance decline, missing out on the playoffs, then a different conversation might ensue. However, given their current form, I don’t anticipate that. They have a strong squad and are playing with a lot of confidence and momentum right now.
“Farke has performed remarkably, and achieving promotion, whether as champions, runners-up, or through the playoffs, would be a well-deserved accomplishment. The real test, though, will be his ability to navigate the Premier League, given his less-than-stellar record with Norwich in the past,” Hutton remarked.
During his tenure with Norwich in the Premier League, Farke’s teams faced relegation twice, with one season ending in a record 15 consecutive league losses.
Despite this, the squad Farke has at Leeds seems more prepared for the rigors of the Premier League. Their performance against Chelsea in the FA Cup suggests that, should Leeds be promoted this season, an immediate demotion back to the Championship isn’t a certainty.
