The Whites have made a steady start to the 2024/25 Championship campaign
Leeds United are in a good position to kick on when they return to Championship action following the international break. The Whites are sat in fifth, just three points behind current league leaders Sunderland, after the recent draw at the Stadium of Light.
Daniel Farke was not overly critical of his sides performance against the Wearsiders, despite a late howler from Illan Meslier, which saw his side drop two points on the road. A win would have taken the Whites to within a point of the Championship summit, but have made a bright start to the campaign nonetheless.
Leeds are many people’s favourites for the title having narrowly missed out on promotion last season, and with a number of managers heaping praise on Farke’s men in the first three months of the campaign.
John Mousinho – Portsmouth
Mousinho claimed Premier League managers should be looking to snap up some of Leeds United’s top players before the summer transfer window closed following their pulsating 3-3 draw at Elland Road.
“The lads gave everything and I think Leeds know they have been in a game today and that is the most important thing,” he said. “We are gutted not to win. I think on balance it was a really good point as Leeds probably deserved to win it. I think they are an outstanding side with some outstanding individuals.
“There are some multi-million pound players there that may go over the next three weeks. If I’m a Premier League manager, I am definitely snapping up a few of them after today.”
Michael Carrick – Middlesbrough
Speaking ahead of the Carabao Cup first round tie, Boro boss Michael Carrick described United as a having a “fantastic squad”. He said: “Great group of players, individually and collectively. They proved that by how far they went, how close they came to the Premier League.”
Both teams fielded much-changed teams as Boro ran-out 3-0 winners after second half strikes from Anfernee Dijksteel, Delano Burgzorg and Josh Coburn.
Carlos Corberan – West Bromwich Albion
Corberan spoke glowingly of United’s chances of securing a top flight return in the wake of the goalless draw at The Hawthorns. “When you are watching previous game of Leeds, for me, they didn’t win the previous games, not for the lack of chances,” said . “Yes, they didn’t win for the lack of accuracy in their big chances.
“And today, for me, it’s important that the team has reduced the number of chances of Leeds, and we have made them feel a different team, because they have, in my opinion, some of the best players on the division.
“But now I think there are changing, like we all teams are suffering, but I see the base of Leeds being a strong team in the competition, something that for me, the last year didn’t happen.”
Danny Röhl – Sheffield Wednesday
The German admitted the Owls were beaten by a superior team at Hillsborough. He said: “You saw a good Leeds side with a lot of quality. It should not be an excuse, but I think in some moments you saw the difference.
“Against a strong Leeds, you have to make a lot of things right and maybe sometimes in some situations, you need a little bit of luck. But especially, the second conceded goal, this is too easy and a five against one situation and (if) we stay in one line, we cover our team-mates backs. It’s then difficult to take something as then our opponent is so strong.
“You can always concede a goal against them and for the first one, they played well, but even in this goal, you can defend differently in some moments and we have to defend differently.
“All in all, they controlled the game and it was hard. But when you play against a strong opposition, it’s about showing resilience and sometimes, (when) you suffer, you have to stay together as a team. This is normal and what we have to take from this game.”
Tim Walter – Hull City
United claimed their first home win of the season after goals from Mateo Joseph and substitute Joel Piroe. “At the end, you are losing over here two nil and you are frustrated,” said Tigers head coach Walter. “Leeds are a good team.
“They are much further along than we are in their philosophy because the coach has been there longer, but in the end, it’s not necessary to lose over here and that’s the reason why I’m really frustrated.”
Scott Parker – Burnley
The Clarets boss praised the job has done with the Whites ahead of the Elland Road meeting. “It’s a big test for us against a very good side,” he said. “They have a pretty settled team, obviously they made some changes in the summer, but a lot of the players have been there a while now.
“It’s an extremely difficult task, from the outside some people see it as just the squad, which of course gives you a great opportunity, but so much more goes into it. To get a team out of this league more than once, I’ve full admiration for Daniel and the work he has done. They missed out narrowly last season in what is a 50/50 game, but he has a really good team there.
Erol Bulut – Cardiff City
“We knew how important and difficult the game would be,” then Cardiff boss Erol Bulut said after his side were comfortably beaten by Leeds. “The plan was to stay compact and not allow them many chances with us countering when we could.
“(The) red card and conceding early hurt us. Against a team like Leeds, this is not easy. We invited them to have chances in the first half. Too many easy mistakes. If you invite them to have chances, they will take them. Our team tried really hard.”
He was critical of the mistake defender Calum Chambers in the build up to United’s second goal. “We knew Leeds would dominate the game,” Bulut added. “That’s why we wanted counter attacks to score. We had many easy and small mistakes. Passing mistakes. (We) didn’t ask for the ball or make runs in behind.
Mark Robins – Coventry City
“The fans expect them to kick on and go up,” Coventry City boss Mark Robins after the 3-0 defeat to the Whites. “Leeds are different to us.
“Leeds have sold over £100m worth of talent this summer and replaced them with good quality as well. Every club is similar in what they try to do with young players and developing them. Leeds have top players and should be there or thereabouts.
“They hurt you in spaces if you commit too early. When you win the ball back, it wasn’t the game plan to sit deep. We wanted to take part in the game, but we didn’t do that. Poor quality on the ball.
“Mentality of taking the easy option at the moment, rather than the right option. We didn’t do that well enough. At 3-0 down it’s easier to start to play because there’s no pressure, the game’s gone.”
Johannes Hoff Thorup – Norwich City
Norwich City boss Johannes Hoff Thorup admitted his side were some way off dominating a side like Leeds. He said: “So much intensity. So much going on. The game changed a little from time to time with Leeds on the ball, then us, then them, then us. Overall [it was] as expected.
“We were a threat on the counters, created some chances. I think I would’ve liked a little more courage on the ball during that particular period of the game. Too much defending from my side. After we conceded there was a strong response from the team. We are not there yet where we can dominate a game against Leeds like this. They did a strong job.
“What I felt before the game, when I looked the players in the eyes, they were believing we could get the three points and that’s what I think you saw out there. We took our chances, knowing there was moments in the game we had to defend, we were in our low block for maybe too long but that’s how it is against a strong team like Leeds. I would say this was up there with our best performance of the season.”
Regis Le Bris – Sunderland
“We are happy for the final result because it was a tough game against a strong team,” Le Bris said after the full-time whistle. “We started very well and in possession, we were able to create many imbalances [for Leeds] and many chances to score. Then after, I think we struggled out of possession.
“We decided to play with a 5-4-1 shape and I think this was the wrong choice, it was difficult to defend our box and apply pressure. At the end, we defended in our final third and when you make a mistake here, then the opponent can quickly create a chance.
“After the first goal we decided to play with a 4-4-2 shape and I think it was better, most of the time we dominated the possession. We didn’t create many chances, I think fatigue was a factor in the second part of the game. We wanted to play but it was difficult for us to find a solution.
“We need to improve as well our second ball, they decided to play long and we mostly won the first contact but the second was always Leeds. With that second ball they were able to create. In the end I think we deserved the draw because even if the goal was lucky, for the whole balance of the game, the way we were able to adapt our structure, I think it was a good point for us.”
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