Leeds United manager Daniel Farke faces a difficult decision ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final against West Ham United: prioritise a historic cup run or focus on Premier League survival. The German, who holds a master's degree in economics, acknowledged that the league remains the club's primary concern. 'The Premier League's our bread and butter,' he said on Thursday.
However, Farke, an avid reader of literary fiction including Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, recognises the allure of a cup run. A first FA Cup semi-final since 1987 is within reach. 'We have the chance to achieve something special and unique,' he said. 'We're taking the West Ham game very, very seriously.'
Leeds have not won in their last six Premier League matches, although four have been draws. They sit four points and three places above West Ham in the table. Farke indicated he will field a strong lineup but will not risk players with physical issues. 'If we get the feeling someone has some physical problem we won't risk them,' he said.
The club's latest accounts showed a £49.2m pre-tax loss for the year ending June 2025. Returning to the Championship would jeopardise an ambitious stadium expansion project. Farke is awaiting scan results on striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hamstring injury, which could affect his availability for Sunday's match.
