Daniel Farke has delivered a defiant message to Leeds United supporters, insisting his squad remains "fully calm" despite their disappointing 1-0 opening day defeat to West Ham United in the Premier League.
The German manager watched his newly-promoted side dominate possession at Elland Road but ultimately fall short against their London opponents, with Lucas Paqueta's second-half header securing all three points for the Hammers.
No Panic Stations for Leeds Boss
Speaking after the match, Farke emphasised the importance of perspective in their first top-flight encounter since returning from Championship football. "We are fully calm," the Leeds manager stated. "It's not the time to panic or overreact. We know this will be a long journey with many challenges."
The defeat highlighted the step up in quality required for Premier League survival, but Farke remained bullish about his team's ability to adapt. "We showed many positive aspects in our game - the control, the possession, the pressing. We just lacked that clinical edge in the final third today."
Missed Opportunities Prove Costly
Leeds created numerous chances throughout the encounter, particularly during a dominant first-half display that saw them control 68% of possession. However, their failure to convert opportunities against a resilient West Ham defence ultimately proved their undoing.
"When you create that many situations against an established Premier League side, you have to score," Farke admitted. "That's the difference at this level - you get punished for not taking your chances."
Long-Term Vision Over Short-Term Setbacks
The former Norwich City manager stressed that his focus remains on the broader picture of their 38-game campaign rather than individual results. "We won't get too high with the wins or too low with the defeats. This is just the beginning of our story."
Farke's measured approach will be tested in the coming weeks as Leeds face a challenging run of fixtures, but the German appears confident his philosophy will yield results over the course of the season.
"The players understand what we're building here. We'll learn from this, improve, and be ready for the next challenge," he concluded, sending a clear message that Leeds United intend to approach their Premier League return with composure and conviction.
