Daniel Farke has issued a stern warning to his Leeds United players, insisting he is not at Elland Road to win popularity contests. The German manager, who took charge in July, stressed that he will be demanding maximum effort and performance, especially during the busy festive period.
“I’m not here to win the Nobel Peace Prize, I’m here to win football matches,” Farke said. He emphasised that players must train as if preparing for a Champions League final to maintain their places in the side. Despite Leeds’ shock midweek defeat at Sunderland, Farke stated he will not make changes for the sake of it for Saturday’s clash against Coventry City.
Farke outlined his selection philosophy: “If you perform, you keep your position. But you cannot afford to have two or three bad games in a row. It’s a question of momentum.” He added that competition for places is fierce and that training standards must remain high.
The Leeds boss also praised Coventry manager Mark Robins, whose six-year tenure is the longest in the Championship. Farke said he would consider his own stint a success if he matched that longevity. “If I’m allowed to be here in six years, it would mean we have achieved our targets,” he remarked, noting the pressure of the job.
Farke described Coventry as a “pretty-dangerous opponent” and expressed respect for Robins’ work with limited resources, including last season’s play-off final appearance.
