Leeds United chairman Parag Malate’s attendance at Elland Road for the game against Chelsea seemed ominous amid uncertainty over Daniel Farke. But at the end of the night they were exchanging blessings and hugs, something less sinister.
Sky Sports News reported that this match could be crucial for Farke’s future, but other reports went further, suggesting that a potential replacement could be in the pipeline as the team, who had six defeats in seven games, remained in the relegation zone with six defeats.
There was no sign that it would affect Falke or the players. They won 3-1, delivering their best performance of the season and lifting Leeds out of the bottom three, putting an end to any talk of Chelsea as title contenders.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Leeds United and Chelsea.
“Elland Road were back to their best and it felt like a magical night,” Farke told Sky Sports.
“This club has been waiting for a long time to get such a big result against a great team like Chelsea. To achieve this under the floodlights and in such an atmosphere was very special and unique.”
When asked if he had time to congratulate the chairman, he added: “Yes, of course it’s about the match. So we hugged. I’m happy with the result and the performance. It was a great night for everyone involved at Leeds United.”
Saturday, December 6th 5pm
5:30pm kickoff
On a night when many thought Falke’s future was in doubt, the Leeds manager appeared to have found a formula that could save his job with a strong performance, changing to a 3-5-2 formation.
But he rejects the idea that he was considering being fired if the outcome was different.
“I’m not fighting for a job,” he says. “I don’t waste my energy thinking about myself. If you want to lead a passionate club like Leeds United, you have to focus all your energy on helping the players, being a shield for them and protecting them.”
“I did not apply for this job. Our board convinced me to sign a contract two and a half years ago. I am not fighting for a job. I am fighting for my sons. We want to be the first team in the last 25 years to establish this club at the top level.”
Another big win at Elland Road this Saturday against a beleaguered Liverpool side under the lights (broadcast on Sky Sports) would go a long way to quelling the speculation that has surrounded Falke since winning promotion to the Premier League.
He was already buying time after some tactical tweaks paid off. The win against Chelsea was the first time in 109 league games as Leeds manager that Farke did not start in the back four.
The inspiration, of course, came from a spirited second-half fightback in the game-changing defeat to Man City a few days ago. Through the second half of the game, Leeds have won five and lost two against City and Chelsea, giving fans hope that this is the way forward.
But Falke doesn’t think it’s that simple. “Of course, if you want to label it like this, it’s the first time I’ve started with base formation like this, but to me base formation means nothing, it’s all about principles and execution.
“I have never blamed performances or results on the basic formation. Otherwise it would be easy. If you play 3-5-2 you can beat Man City or Chelsea. It’s not that simple.”
Farke has said this could be his new home, and while principles are important to the Leeds manager, it’s easy to see why. The 3-5-2 formation plays to the team’s strengths and takes full advantage of summer recruitment efforts focused on signings with the Giants.
Gabriel Gudmundsson and Jayden Bogle are instant wing-backs whose shape hides Leeds’ shortcomings in attacking wide areas, but Xhaka Buyol looks much more comfortable in a back three with captain Ethan Amapudu protecting the midfield.
Most importantly, this shape suits Leeds to allow their two strikers, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lucas Nmeka, to play more directly without being isolated up front. These form the top of a strong spine that performs in the way the Elland Road demands.
“Leeds showed something different[against Chelsea],” said Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, who predicted Farke’s side would have a poor start to the season.
“They were much more physical. That’s definitely a blueprint for how they should perform week in and week out. They put players on the pitch to do that. Chelsea are playing a men’s team and they looked like little boys.”
“The Leeds XI, if they can stay healthy, we have some big players, but with those two guys up top I think we can (stay in shape).”
Perhaps it is this mindset that explains Farke’s eagerness to reduce the impact of the 3-5-2. Calvert-Lewin and Nmeka are the biggest injury concerns for Saturday’s game against Liverpool at Elland Road (live on Sky Sports).
It will be Leeds’ third game against one of the ‘big six’ in eight days. It may be impossible to recreate the energy and starting lineup that dominated Chelsea. But Farke could now keep under-pressure Liverpool manager Arne Slott guessing about how to set up his team.
The win against Chelsea was only the fifth time in Farke’s 60 Premier League games as manager that he lined up with a back three or five, but he says it was part of his plan to become more adaptable after winning promotion.
“When we were winning most of our games (last season), we didn’t change our basic formation too much,” he says. “Top teams in Europe and the Premier League always play in the same formation.
“But we have to close the gap in individual quality and we have to be more flexible. This was clear at the beginning of the season. That’s why we have been training a lot with the three-man formation. We knew we were ready to switch it up every game.”
Leeds fans will be hoping there are no changes to Liverpool’s formation for their trip to Elland Road.
Watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event from 5pm. Kickoff 5:30pm.
